The wait is finally finished and tonight’s (Sat., March 5, 2016) blockbuster UFC 196 pay-per-view is in full swing from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, skyrocketing featherweight champion Conor McGregor will take on Nate Diaz in a short notice bout at welterweight. In the co-main event, women’s bantamweight
The wait is finally finished and tonight’s (Sat., March 5, 2016) blockbuster UFC 196 pay-per-view is in full swing from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In the main event, skyrocketing featherweight champion Conor McGregor will take on Nate Diaz in a short notice bout at welterweight. In the co-main event, women’s bantamweight champ Holly Holm will seek her first title defense against longtime top contender Miesha Tate.
Join LowKickMMA.com for the anticipated event’s post-fight press conference right after the main card:
The “Notorious” Conor McGregor looked like a completely different man at last night’s (March 4, 2016) UFC 196 weigh-ins compared to his previous weigh-ins. That’s because the Irishman will be taking on Nate Diaz in a welterweight battle, two whole weight classes up from his usual home at featherweight. Fighting at 170-pounds as opposed to
The “Notorious” Conor McGregor looked like a completely different man at last night’s (March 4, 2016) UFC 196 weigh-ins compared to his previous weigh-ins.
That’s because the Irishman will be taking on Nate Diaz in a welterweight battle, two whole weight classes up from his usual home at featherweight.
Fighting at 170-pounds as opposed to 145-pounds, McGregor looks happier, fuller, and much healthier.
With that being said, he does still indeed hold the featherweight title, although it seems more and more likely that he’ll never defend that strap, at least according to UFC President Dana White (Via MMAFighting):
“I think if he wins impressively [Saturday], he doesn’t even go back to 45,” White said at Mandalay Bay’s Light nightclub. “That’s what I think. That weight cut is horrible for him. He looks terrible. I’m sure he feels terrible. I think he stays at 170 if he wins tomorrow.”
McGregor, on the other hand, feels as if it would be no problem dropping back down to featherweight. That is if an interesting challenger were to arise:
“I can go back to 145 no problem,” McGregor said. “Who is there, though? Let me see some of these damn bums get up and fight and make some noise. I just hear crying, complaining, please, begging — all this sh*t. I don’t see nothing appealing. They need to build themselves up right now. I’m sitting pretty. I’m sitting up here. They need to fight and make some noise, make me stand up and sy, OK, I’ll take him on. That’s what I need to see, because right now I see a bunch of complainers, whiners.”
How do you see tonight’s fight playing out, and what do you believe the future holds for the Irishman?
Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz: Mike Drahota: I think this short notice match-up is actually better than the original McGregor vs. dos Anjos lightweight title bout due to Diaz’ sheer overall popularity, and the feverish media buildup of the last two weeks would support that theory. Diaz has played the role of the enigmatic slugger
I think this short notice match-up is actually better than the original McGregor vs. dos Anjos lightweight title bout due to Diaz’ sheer overall popularity, and the feverish media buildup of the last two weeks would support that theory. Diaz has played the role of the enigmatic slugger to perfection, yet I’m just not sure that he is in the kind of fight-ready shape that it may require to topple McGregor.
‘The Notorious’ is looking huge and energized at 168 pounds, which means his already massive knockout power could be amplified. And while Diaz has never been finished by punches, he did appear a tad bit less conditioned than the elite shape that he showed when defeating Michael Johnson. There’s no question that Diaz’ length and reach advantage could be an issue for McGregor after moving up two weight classes, and the Stockton native will also have the decided edge if it hits the ground, but I just think ‘The Notorious’ is a steamroller right now. McGregor via round two TKO.
Rory Kernaghan:
I’ve swayed back and forth on my pick for the UFC 196 main event, as both McGregor and Diaz have all the tools required to get the job done. As far as styles are concerned, Diaz needs this fight on the mat, and McGregor needs a knockout. The difficulty for Diaz is that McGregor is so hard to prepare for as he just comes out with new moves in every fight. I think the big hit for the Stockton bad boy is the short notice, and I also feel his recent interviews have shown him to be both unfocused and under the strain of the rivalry. I’m winging this one because Diaz stung me against Michael Johnson and Donald Cerrone, but I’m picking McGregor for the round one TKO.
Mike Henken:
In my opinion, Diaz does indeed present some interesting challenges to the Irishman from a stylistic standpoint. The Stockton native should be the bigger, longer man, and he undoubtedly possesses the grappling advantage if the fight ends up on the ground. With that being said, McGregor has looked massive leading up to the bout, and I believe that his pure power and superior technical striking should give him the nod here. McGregor by first round knockout.
Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate:
Mike Drahota:
Holm’s first defense should be a wholly different affair than the bout she won the title in because Tate should stick to a more effective gameplan than Ronda Rousey’s attempt to out-strike a decorated world champion boxer. After four straight hard-fought victories, no one wants to be champion more than Tate, and she can and will make this a gritty, bloody war while absorbing a ton of damage to win. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Holm score a second round TKO as the far superior striker, but I just believe ‘Cupcake’ will be able to make this a gritty fight with her takedowns and pull out the grueling upset. Miesha Tate by split decision.
Rory Kernaghan:
Miesha Tate has time and time again come up with blue balls in her big fights, and mostly against Ronda Rousey. In my opinion Holm is an even more dangerous fight for ‘Cupcake’ than her two against ‘Rowdy,’ and I don’t see this going too well for her. The smart bet is on a big Holm win, but the big money is picking the round and method. I think Holm’s footwork and offensive power with the head kicks and straight punches is where the fight is won. ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ for the second round knockout.
Mike Henken:
Tate presents a unique skillset in this bout, as she’s likely the best pure wrestler to have ever faced off with the champion Holm. “Cupcake” has also shown improved power in her hands as of late, and has always possessed a tough, gritty style that keeps her in fights until the bitter end. That being said, “The Preacher’s Daughter” is a former 19-time boxing world champion, and I feel like this bout won’t even be a contest if contested on the feet. Holm is just simply that good. I also believe that the champion should be able to use her length, footwork, and movement, to keep the fight standing. If she can, I don’t see it lasting too long. Holm by second round knockout.
It looks like the trash talk has finally got to Nate Diaz, as he walked out on a CNBC interview when Conor McGregor touched a nerve… UFC 196 fight day is finally here! Although it means some of us will be staying up until the ungodly hours of the morning in our respective time zones,
It looks like the trash talk has finally got to Nate Diaz, as he walked out on a CNBC interview when Conor McGregor touched a nerve…
UFC 196 fight day is finally here! Although it means some of us will be staying up until the ungodly hours of the morning in our respective time zones, it’s fair to say the main event between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz has us sold. The beef between the two trash talking kings dates back to before Diaz’s landmark win over Michael Johnson in late 2015, as the Stockton bad boy was slamming ‘The Notorious’ in interviews well before that.
It seems that money has long been an issue with the Diaz brothers, and served as the main reason for both men sitting out for long periods during their potentially best years. When you learn that the younger Diaz brother has a basic $20K/$20K salary at the time of last reporting, you can almost see why he’s bitter about a guy like McGregor. The Irish star is reportedly breaking the $10 million dollar mark for this weekend’s festivities.
With McGregor making ‘super heavyweight’ cheques, and both Diaz brothers having fought for much longer and arguably against some of the best known names in their respective divisions and beyond, you can see why the subject of money might be a raw nerve. As it happens, the two UFC 196 headliners sat down with business news channel CNBC, and not surprisingly the subject was money.
McGregor gets asked about how much money he’s making this weekend, and then things get interesting.
Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz will finally square off in the main event of tomorrow night’s (March 5, 2016) UFC 196, but the two have barely made it thus far without fists flying. In fact, the two engaged in a scuffle of sorts during their stare down at yesterday’s (March 3, 2016) pre-fight press conference.
Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz will finally square off in the main event of tomorrow night’s (March 5, 2016) UFC 196, but the two have barely made it thus far without fists flying.
In fact, the two engaged in a scuffle of sorts during their stare down at yesterday’s (March 3, 2016) pre-fight press conference.
Apparently before the commotion ensued, the “Notorious” one confronted members of Diaz’s team, known as the Skrap Pack, taking a verbal shot at former UFC veteran Jake Shields:
“‘The f–k you lookin’ at?”, McGregor told one of Diaz’ teammates. “I’d strangle you in a heart beat. And you (Jake Shields) as well, you little juice head.” The Cesar Gracie BJJ black belt responded by saying he’d “slap the sh-t” out of McGregor, but “The Notorious” brushed his comments aside.
It appears as if Diaz’s team saw something like this coming, and it just so happens that Nate’s elder brother, Nick, who’s currently dealing with a suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), was ready to go if need be:
“If he even touches you, then it’s on,” Nick Diaz then said to Nate.
Both Team McGregor and Team Diaz were quick to jump on stage in the midst of the madness, but the issue was quickly resolved by security before both sides broke out into a full-fledged brawl.
Check out the video footage of the encounter below courtesy of TMZ (via Bloody Elbow):
Yeah we missed it at first too, but if you watch again you’ll see that Nate Diaz landed a clean and unanswered shot on Conor McGregor… If you’ve been keeping up with the UFC this week you’ll know it’s all been about Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz. The two outspoken fan favorites will collide in the main
Yeah we missed it at first too, but if you watch again you’ll see that Nate Diaz landed a clean and unanswered shot on Conor McGregor…
If you’ve been keeping up with the UFC this week you’ll know it’s all been about Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz. The two outspoken fan favorites will collide in the main event of UFC 196 this Saturday March 5, and it’s been a very eventful 24 hours in this heated rivalry. Not only have the two been trash talking the living daylights out of each other, but McGregor and Diaz damn near started the fight on stage last night.
The second UFC 196 pre-fight show between ‘The Notorious’ and his Stockton opposite was just an absolute fan’s dream. The two had an intense moment on stage when Conor McGregor smacked away Nate Diaz’s extended fist, and havoc ensued as the two scuffled, and the 209 crew rushed the stage to join the antics.
Following this moment of live action madness came yet more bonkers footage from Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz’s appearance on FOX Sports. As they sat with Jay and Dan, things got heated real quick. Check it out:
But one moment has gone amiss here, as we may have missed the obvious at the UFC 196 presser brawl.
