After five months of drama, Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz meet again at UFC 202 on Saturday. Their first matchup was an epic upset, as Diaz stepped up on just 11 days’ notice to face the featherweight champion. In one of the best fights of the year, Diaz capitalized on McGregor’s fatigue in the second round by burying him under a stream of punches and then choking the Irishman out on the mat.
It was a shocking outcome in one of the biggest fights of 2016, and the rematch promises every bit as much drama.
The two men were scheduled to meet again at UFC 200, but McGregor’s unwillingness to travel for press obligations led to a back-and-forth tug-of-war between the Irish superstar and the UFC that led to the fight’s being pulled and moved to UFC 202.
All of that is behind us now, and McGregor and Diaz will duke it out Saturday night.
The rest of the card is studded with interesting fights. In the co-main event, Anthony Johnson and Glover Teixeira meet in a nearly certain top-contender matchup at 205 pounds, and the winner will face Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight strap. Donald Cerrone takes on Rick Story in a fantastic welterweight matchup that promises serious action on the main card.
The Fox Sports 1 and Fight Pass headliners are likewise excellent. On FS1, blue-chip up-and-comer Cody Garbrandt takes on the experienced Takeya Mizugaki in a classic prospect vs. veteran matchup. Lorenz Larkin and Neil Magny will meet on Fight Pass in an outstanding welterweight fight.
The rest of the card is forgettable but should produce a great deal of action.
Let’s take a look at each matchup.