Check out Bloody Elbow’s extensive pre-fight coverage of UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, March 5th. In the main event, featherweight champion Conor McGregor moves up to welterweight to take on Nate Diaz in a short-notice bout that is scheduled for 5 rounds. The co-main event is a women’s bantamweight title defense for new champion Holly Holm, as she battles former Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate.
On Saturday, March 5th, Conor McGregor won’t be fighting Rafael dos Anjos for the lightweight belt. Instead, the featherweight champion is headed up to welterweight for what should be a thrilling showdown with Nate Diaz in the UFC 196 main event at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. It’s a great Plan B with the original RDA/Conor bout falling through, and we’ll get to see Irish fans intermingle with Diaz fans in what will surely be a cordial, friendly get-together to watch some fisticuffs.
In the co-main event, Holly Holm makes her first defense of the women’s bantamweight title, as she faces Miesha Tate. Rounding out the main card is #1 pound-for-pound legend Ilir Latifi against mere mortal Gian Villante, time-bending light heavyweight Corey “Beastin’ 25/8” Anderson against Tom Lawlor, and women’s bantamweight contenders Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko.
The preliminary card features the return of Brandon Thatch and Siyar Bahadurzada in the FS1 feature bout, plus Diego Sanchez vs. Jim Miller in a lightweight bout on Fight Pass.
Here’s next week’s bout order:
Main Card (10 PM ET, PPV)
Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor
Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate
Ilir Latifi vs. Gian Villante
Corey Anderson vs. Tom Lawlor
Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Preliminary Card (8 PM ET, FS1)
Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Brandon Thatch
Erick Silva vs. Nordine Taleb
Marcelo Guimaraes vs. Vitor Miranda
Darren Elkins vs. Chas Skelly
Preliminary Card (6:30 PM ET, Fight Pass)
Jim Miller vs. Diego Sanchez
Jason Saggo vs. Justin Salas
Julian Erosa vs. Teruto Ishihara