Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz still train to meet in UFC 200 despite Dana White’s edict

Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White stood in front of a raucous crowd at the MGM Grand Garden to host a news conference Friday for all the fighters who will participate at UFC 200 on July 9 at T-Mobile Arena.

The star of the show was the empty chair to White’s left.

Earlier this week, White announced Conor McGregor had been pulled from a scheduled main event bout against Nate Diaz for failing to fly to Las Vegas to participate in the promotional kickoff for the historic event.

Diaz took the seat to White’s right, but the other wasn’t even necessary. White said there was no update to the situation.

“This thing has pretty much played out in the media,” he said. “We try to give as much leeway as we can on these things, but you have to promote the fight. You have to show up to do the press conferences and do the commercials. A lot of these guys came in from different parts of the world. They’re here. It’s part of the job. It’s what we do here.”

White said a film crew was in from Los Angeles to shoot commercials and promotional videos for the event, further necessitating McGregor’s presence if he were to stay in the main event.

He said Diaz will stay on the card if he would like against a new opponent, though Diaz didn’t seem too keen on the idea.

“I came to fight Conor McGregor,” said Diaz, who submitted McGregor in the second round of a bout on March 5. “I don’t really have too much interest in anybody else. I don’t have any interest in fighting at all. But if that’s what we were going to do, I thought we were going to do it.

“I didn’t ask for it. He did and he wanted it. If that ain’t gonna happen, I’m going on vacation.”

McGregor didn’t have to be in attendance to share his feelings on the situation.

“Everyone flew in. Respect,” McGregor posted on Twitter. “But not everyone up there made the company 400 million in 8 months.”

Informed of the tweet on stage, Diaz had a thoughtful response.

“Conor got his (expletive) beat,” he said to thunderous approval.

While White said McGregor is off the card, Diaz said he will continue training to fight McGregor at UFC 200.

Regardless of what happens with Diaz or McGregor, White promised the card will have at least another marquee fight added.

“I’m obviously working on something that I’m not telling you,” he said. “We’re announcing what we have so far, but UFC 200 is still a work in progress. We’re still three months away.”

Las Vegan Miesha Tate will defend the women’s bantamweight title for the first time against Amanda Nunes on the card. Also, Frankie Edgar will fight Jose Aldo for the interim featherweight title.

Despite all the big stars on the stage, most of the questions asked at the news conference were directed at White and related to McGregor.

“People want Conor to fight,” White said. “You think I don’t want him to fight? You know I do.

“We gave Conor every opportunity in the world to get here.”

Diaz believes the UFC should just allow McGregor to fight despite his failure to appear for this event.

“He’s got a lot of catching up to do,” Diaz said in reference to his win in the first meeting. “Let him do his thing, get his training on. It’s all good with me.”

White once again reiterated he is not angry at McGregor, but it’s what had to be done considering the circumstances.

“It’s not the popular decision,” he said. “But it’s the right decision.”

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj