Manager: Nate Diaz can land Conor McGregor rubber match by defeating Tony Ferguson

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight contender Nate Diaz, who moonlights as a welterweight when the opportunity (and cash) presents itself, is getting career advice from an unlikely place.

Tony Ferguson’s manager, Audie Attar.

While reigning lightweight champion Conor McGregor is off chasing Floyd Mayweather Jr. — and dirty diapers — the rest of the 155-pound weight class (including this guy) is on hold. That leaves the No. 1-ranked “El Cucuy” with nothing to do but wait for an opponent to step up.

Even if it means tempting Diaz with forward-looking statements.

"The Nate Diaz fight interests him," Attar told The MMA Hour (via Daily Star). “If you want Conor to be excited about you, you better go in there and fight if you want to fight him in the future. If this thing happens with Floyd, you got to get Conor excited to get back in there with you. So I think from an opportunity standpoint, Nate would be foolish not to consider taking Tony on for the interim title fight."

Something Ferguson has already been asking for.

Diaz launched himself into immediate title contention by choking out McGregor at UFC 196 last year in Las Vegas, Nevada. While “Notorious” would avenge his loss by way of decision the following August, there is still unfinished business between the two parties.

The ball, it would seem, is in Diaz’s court. Or cup, depending on where he’s at.