Most people probably aren’t giving Nate Diaz a big chance to defeat Conor McGregor when the two collide this weekend (Sat., March 5, 2016) in the main event of UFC 196 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Especially since the Stockton slugger is stepp…
Most people probably aren’t giving Nate Diaz a big chance to defeat Conor McGregor when the two collide this weekend (Sat., March 5, 2016) in the main event of UFC 196 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
But, there are some who think Nate could pull off the upset. Chief among them is Frankie Edgar, who says he won’t be too surprised if Diaz goes into “Sin City” and spoils the party.
“I don’t know, man, I think Nate could go in there and spoil the party, and then [McGregor] has to come back down to 145,” Edgar said Monday on The MMA Hour (via MMA Fighting). “I think that’s best case scenario.”
Sure, it would be ideal for Frankie if McGregor loses since it will most likely mean the Irishman will have to drop back down to featherweight and defend his strap against him, putting his lightweight championship dreams on hold.
Still, selfish reasons aside, “The Answer” does give Nate a legit chance.
“I give him a real shot. His pressure and volume is just tough to deal with for anybody. You know, Conor’s biggest thing is range and length, and he doesn’t have it in this fight,” said Frankie. “A southpaw against southpaw, I think a lot could happen there.”
“I think he has to win this fight the same way he always does,” Edgar said. “Just, pressure. You’ve got to put pressure on Conor, and he’s got to take the kicks away as much as possible. Conor is definitely crafty. He has many different kicks, and [Diaz] has to put the pressure, get close enough to negate the kicks, and just be himself.”
Still, some believe the odds are stacked too high for Diaz, as he is going to come into the fight with no training camp whatsoever. He is, however, in shape thanks to his triathlon preparations.
Anyone have the same confidence in Nate that Frankie seems to have?
Much of the discussion around this weekend’s (Sat., March 5, 2016) anticipated welterweight showdown between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz has centered around whether or not Diaz is truly in shape for the short notice bout, which he accepted on only 11 days’ notice when lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos pulled out of the bout
Much of the discussion around this weekend’s (Sat., March 5, 2016) anticipated welterweight showdown between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz has centered around whether or not Diaz is truly in shape for the short notice bout, which he accepted on only 11 days’ notice when lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos pulled out of the bout with a broken foot.
But it appears those concerns have at least been somewhat quelled, as photos surfaced yesterday of Diaz looking in good shape after apparently already being in training for a triathlon.
Shortly thereafter, more good news seemingly surfaced for Diaz fans, as a photograph appeared on the Diaz Brothers’ Facebook page of Nate looking especially ripped with the simple caption ‘This is America.’ Check it out:
By comparison, Diaz’ current shape looks remarkably close to the excellent shape in which he arrived to his exhilarating decision win over Michael ‘The Menace’ Johnson at December’s UFC on FOX 17. For reference, here’s what he looked then:
Of course, these are only looks, and his physical shape will only tell part of the story when it comes to facing off versus the fighter with the most momentum in the UFC right now in McGregor.
But fans and media alike were concerned that Diaz wouldn’t be in shape for the short notice bout after he came in flabby and injured in his loss to dos Anjos. For now, at least, it appears Diaz is ripped and ready to go for this weekend’s pivotal bout.
Will that be enough to propel him to a win over the confident McGregor?
Bellator 153: “Koreshkov vs. Henderson” comes to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on April 22, 2016, with a main event between former UFC Lightweight champion, Benson Henderson, making his promotional debut at Welterweight against div…
Bellator 153: “Koreshkov vs. Henderson” comes to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on April 22, 2016, with a main event between former UFC Lightweight champion, Benson Henderson, making his promotional debut at Welterweight against division champion Andrey Koreshkov in the Spike TV main event.
Earlier this week, Bellator MMA announced a supporting line up of fights that should increase interest in the show. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (24-3) returns for the first time since losing the Featherweight title to Daniel Straus in Nov. 2015 against streaking Bellator veteran John “Macapa” Teixeira.
Since his Bellator debut at Bellator 128, Teixeira has notched three straight split decision wins in the highly competitive Featherweight division. However, Freire will be Teixeira’s toughest test to date, and given the ferocity of the Pitbull Brothers’ fighting style, going to the judges again may not be an option.
Bellator MMA also announced key bouts for the card pitting winner of four straight, “Irish” Brennan Ward (13-3), against Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (20-16) in his promotional debut. Santos has been somewhat inactive to say the least, having only taken three fights since 2011, but he’s fresh off a win over Artenas Young at Legacy FC 50 in January.
Check out the latest Bellator 153 fight card below, which features four new “Prelims” contests:
Bellator 153 “Koreshkov vs. Henderson” (Spike TV):
Welterweight: Andrey Koreshkov (c) (18-1) vs. Benson Henderson (23-5) Featherweight: Patricio Freire (24-3) vs. John Teixeira (19-1-2) Welterweight: Brennan Ward (13-3) vs. Evangelista Santos (20-16)
Bellator 153 “Prelim” bouts (Spike.com):
Lightweight: Sam Watford (1-0) vs. Dean Hancock (2-0) Featherweight: Chris Foster (8-4) vs. Felipe Lavandoski (5-0) Lightweight: Jason Bakanowski (3-2) vs. T.J. Hepburn (4-2) Featherweight: Pete Rogers (2-3) vs. Mike Mangan (0-3)
To check out the latest Bellator MMA-related news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive news archive right here.
It sounds crazy, but Manny Pacquiao could be in action at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio if a new rule change allowing professional boxers to compete is approved. In a rather large move for the Olympics, future Hall of Fame legend Manny Pac…
It sounds crazy, but Manny Pacquiao could be in action at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio if a new rule change allowing professional boxers to compete is approved.
In a rather large move for the Olympics, future Hall of Fame legend Manny Pacquiao has been personally invited to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Olympic boxing has always had rules forbidding professional fighters from competing, however reports indicate that this may change in time for the Rio games.
The AIBA, boxing’s world governing body, has pushed for a rule change to allow professionals into the Olympics effective this summer. This proposal has not yet been approved – voting will take place in May. They have however already approved a change that will see male boxers no longer wearing headgear (women will continue to wear the headgear for now).
As part of this proposed change, AIBA president Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu has personally invited Pacquiao to compete in Rio. Pacquiao is fighting his last professional fight in April against Timothy Bradley.
In response to this proposal, members of the California State Athletic Commission have released a statement coming out against the change. CSAC chairman John Carvelli stated:
“The bottom line is that professionals will compete against amateur fighters. Amateur/professional participation would create a competitive environment detrimental to the sport and dangerous for the participants – particularly young amateurs learning their craft. It is our collective responsibility to protect the health and safety of amateur athletes, while we protect and promote the honorable tradition of Olympic boxing – an international symbol of fair and open competition.”
Carvelli and other CSAC members called for the AIBA to reconsider the proposal and keep the Olympics as an amateurs only competition.
As I sit back and think about the main event at UFC 196, my mind is starting to change directions. What I originally thought would be a walk in the park for McGregor won’t be. Bank on this as a fight of the night thriller.
Styles make fights and Nate Diaz has all the variables to pull this off. The one and only thing I see as a problem is cardio as Diaz took on short notice and this is booked as a five rounder verses a three. Let’s break this fight down more thoroughly.
The stand up battle is a wash as both have outstanding stand up striking. Nate will try to use his reach and quick combos to breakdown the Irishman keeping good distance. We all know Diaz has a great chin and even if it goes to the ground, that could be quicksand for the Irishman.
Diaz has spectacular jiu jitsu especially from the bottom utilizing his long legs for the triangle. I feel McGregor will not go to the ground and will choose to back away allowing him to stand up. If Connor chooses to ground and pound, it’s possible the Stockton brawler could slip that leg over and catch him.
McGregor will utilize his vicious array of kicks and punches to find an opening in the armor of Diaz pushing forward the entire time. That could work into Nate’s advantage as well if McGregor slips up and walks into a punch but we all know McGregor has a great chin as well. Diaz also does not possess one shot KO power as he punches in bunches. With all that, I would give McGregor the edge because of the KO factor.
If the UFC featherweight champ finds himself on the bottom, Diaz could be dangerous for a few reasons. The first one being that he will attempt to exploit McGregor’s questionable jiu jitsu but I don’t think Diaz is as good on top as he is from the bottom. He also could very well allow McGregor to stand up.
The second is in a flurry, Diaz could catch the back of McGregor which could spell big trouble. Connor will have to proceed with caution at all times as Diaz has trained with some of the best ground guys in the world. I give Diaz the clear advantage on the ground.
Don’t forget the experience Nate Diaz possesses as well. The guy has beaten a ton of good guys and sometimes with ease. Just look up the who’s who on that list but have also seem him look flat and out of shape. The experience factor is close since McGregor has been on the biggest stage as of late. I would give Diaz a slight advantage if any here.
Both men have mental warfare skills as well and is a toss up. Though it appears McGregor has more, maybe Diaz is better at channeling his energy into the fight and is not going to let Connor get to him. That is smart strategy for Diaz to perform well in this contest.
Let’s all be honest here about McGregor, he ran through everyone the UFC has thrown at him at 145 lbs. including a very short and out of shape Chad Mendes. He also was able to KO Jose Aldo with what some people would say was lucky. Let’s remember that this is 170 lbs. and a very tough tall Nate Diaz. This is a whole new animal to deal with.
The question is was all that legitimate skill versus the “Luck Of the Irish”. We all know he has tremendous skills and can sell a fight but does he have the skills to win a war of a bout where he has to reach down deep in the latter rounds to pull it out ?
The only thing I see favoring McGregor heavily is the preparation aspect. Diaz took the fight about 7 days ago or 12 days before fight day. The question is how out of shape was Diaz ? Where is his baseline of stamina if not really doing much ? These questions will only be answered on Saturday.
As far as a prediction, I will hold of until after I watch the weigh-in. I want to see both men on the scale and watch their eyes and confidence. Sometimes it will tell you what’s going on in the heads of the fighters like it did with RR and other times it does not. It should be a good time either way.
As I sit back and think about the main event at UFC 196, my mind is starting to change directions. What I originally thought would be a walk in the park for McGregor won’t be. Bank on this as a fight of the night thriller.
Styles make fights and Nate Diaz has all the variables to pull this off. The one and only thing I see as a problem is cardio as Diaz took on short notice and this is booked as a five rounder verses a three. Let’s break this fight down more thoroughly.
The stand up battle is a wash as both have outstanding stand up striking. Nate will try to use his reach and quick combos to breakdown the Irishman keeping good distance. We all know Diaz has a great chin and even if it goes to the ground, that could be quicksand for the Irishman.
Diaz has spectacular jiu jitsu especially from the bottom utilizing his long legs for the triangle. I feel McGregor will not go to the ground and will choose to back away allowing him to stand up. If Connor chooses to ground and pound, it’s possible the Stockton brawler could slip that leg over and catch him.
McGregor will utilize his vicious array of kicks and punches to find an opening in the armor of Diaz pushing forward the entire time. That could work into Nate’s advantage as well if McGregor slips up and walks into a punch but we all know McGregor has a great chin as well. Diaz also does not possess one shot KO power as he punches in bunches. With all that, I would give McGregor the edge because of the KO factor.
If the UFC featherweight champ finds himself on the bottom, Diaz could be dangerous for a few reasons. The first one being that he will attempt to exploit McGregor’s questionable jiu jitsu but I don’t think Diaz is as good on top as he is from the bottom. He also could very well allow McGregor to stand up.
The second is in a flurry, Diaz could catch the back of McGregor which could spell big trouble. Connor will have to proceed with caution at all times as Diaz has trained with some of the best ground guys in the world. I give Diaz the clear advantage on the ground.
Don’t forget the experience Nate Diaz possesses as well. The guy has beaten a ton of good guys and sometimes with ease. Just look up the who’s who on that list but have also seem him look flat and out of shape. The experience factor is close since McGregor has been on the biggest stage as of late. I would give Diaz a slight advantage if any here.
Both men have mental warfare skills as well and is a toss up. Though it appears McGregor has more, maybe Diaz is better at channeling his energy into the fight and is not going to let Connor get to him. That is smart strategy for Diaz to perform well in this contest.
Let’s all be honest here about McGregor, he ran through everyone the UFC has thrown at him at 145 lbs. including a very short and out of shape Chad Mendes. He also was able to KO Jose Aldo with what some people would say was lucky. Let’s remember that this is 170 lbs. and a very tough tall Nate Diaz. This is a whole new animal to deal with.
The question is was all that legitimate skill versus the “Luck Of the Irish”. We all know he has tremendous skills and can sell a fight but does he have the skills to win a war of a bout where he has to reach down deep in the latter rounds to pull it out ?
The only thing I see favoring McGregor heavily is the preparation aspect. Diaz took the fight about 7 days ago or 12 days before fight day. The question is how out of shape was Diaz ? Where is his baseline of stamina if not really doing much ? These questions will only be answered on Saturday.
As far as a prediction, I will hold of until after I watch the weigh-in. I want to see both men on the scale and watch their eyes and confidence. Sometimes it will tell you what’s going on in the heads of the fighters like it did with RR and other times it does not. It should be a good time either way.
The UFC held a Twitter Q&A session with Nate Diaz on Wednesday, and one fan just couldn’t resist asking the magical question, “Are you high right now?”
The UFC is running Twitter Q&As for some of the feature fighters on UFC 196, and Nate Diaz answered a selection of the top questions from fight fans. For instance, we know that his favorite boxers to watch include Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, Ricardo Mayorga, and Roberto Duran, Tupac is his favorite rapper of all-time, and he likes Julie Kedzie’s dog Bailey.
Diaz’s Q&A session closed with what can only be described as the perfect question to ask a Diaz brother. Andrew Cartright simply asked, “Are you high right now?”
Nate’s response, which came at 2:29 PM ET, was a simple, “Andrew, whaddup? At the moment, I am not.”
Well that’s reassuring to know. As a reminder to everyone, NAC doesn’t test for marijuana out-of-competition, but anyone who is busted in-competition is subject to an 18 month suspension. Nick Diaz has had his issues over the years with the NAC, but Nate has never failed a drug test in his entire career.
The UFC held a Twitter Q&A session with Nate Diaz on Wednesday, and one fan just couldn’t resist asking the magical question, “Are you high right now?”
The UFC is running Twitter Q&As for some of the feature fighters on UFC 196, and Nate Diaz answered a selection of the top questions from fight fans. For instance, we know that his favorite boxers to watch include Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, Ricardo Mayorga, and Roberto Duran, Tupac is his favorite rapper of all-time, and he likes Julie Kedzie’s dog Bailey.
Diaz’s Q&A session closed with what can only be described as the perfect question to ask a Diaz brother. Andrew Cartright simply asked, “Are you high right now?”
Nate’s response, which came at 2:29 PM ET, was a simple, “Andrew, whaddup? At the moment, I am not.”
Well that’s reassuring to know. As a reminder to everyone, NAC doesn’t test for marijuana out-of-competition, but anyone who is busted in-competition is subject to an 18 month suspension. Nick Diaz has had his issues over the years with the NAC, but Nate has never failed a drug test in his entire career.
