It doesn’t seem as if many are picking Nate Diaz to upset UFC featherweight champion the “Notorious” Conor McGregor in the main event of this weekend’s (March 5, 2016) UFC 196 from Las Vegas, Nevada. In fact, UFC color commentator Jon Anik is so confident in McGregor that he’s offered to get a “209”, which
It doesn’t seem as if many are picking Nate Diaz to upset UFC featherweight champion the “Notorious” Conor McGregor in the main event of this weekend’s (March 5, 2016) UFC 196 from Las Vegas, Nevada.
In fact, UFC color commentator Jon Anik is so confident in McGregor that he’s offered to get a “209”, which is the area code of Diaz’s home in Stockton, California, tattoo if Diaz can pull out a victory in Vegas.
The brash and outspoken Diaz didn’t take kindly to these comments as expected, taking to his official twitter account to fire back at Anik:
Originally, McGregor was slated to face off with reigning lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos for the 155-pound strap, but the Brazilian was forced out of the bout early last week with a broken foot.
It was then quickly announced that Diaz would step up on short notice to save the main event, but also that the two men would be fighting at welterweight.
The “Notorious” one has been victorious in all seven of his Octagon appearances, and is coming off of a fantastic 13 second knockout of former long-time 145-pound title holder Jose Aldo at December 12, 2015’s UFC 194.
Diaz, on the other, hand recently returned from a layoff to meet Michael Johnson at December 19, 2015’s UFC on FOX 17. Showing up on point and in shape, Diaz was able to pick up a well-deserved unanimous decision victory.
The hype and build-up to McGregor vs. Diaz has sure been a spectacle, but how do you see the fight playing out?
Do you agree with Anik, or could Diaz shock the world?
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?
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.
There’s little doubt that there’s a lot riding on this Saturday night’s (March 5, 2016) UFC 196 main event between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz, but for Octagon commentator Jon Anik, it’s coming in quite a unique fashion. Anik recently spoke up on his podcast with Kenny Florian (quotes transcribed via Bloody Elbow) to declare
There’s little doubt that there’s a lot riding on this Saturday night’s (March 5, 2016) UFC 196 main event between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz, but for Octagon commentator Jon Anik, it’s coming in quite a unique fashion.
Anik recently spoke up on his podcast with Kenny Florian (quotes transcribed via Bloody Elbow) to declare that if Diaz somehow pulls off the improbable and defeats McGregor, he’ll get a ‘209’ tattoo on his forearm commemorating Diaz’ Stockton, California roots:
“I’m going to say it here for the masses to hear. I will get the area code ‘209’ tattooed on the inside of my forearm, if Nate Diaz beats Conor McGregor. I got Conor in Round 1.”
Anik went on to explain the reasoning for his decision, culminating in the fact that he’s confident enough to risk getting a piece of permanent ink on his skin, due Diaz taking the fight on short notice and possibly not being fight-ready:
“I got Conor McGregor, I got him by first round knockout or TKO,” he said. “I’m just not convinced, as much as you know I love these Diaz brothers, that Nate is in championship shape. And I think cardio has always been a big key to his style, to his success.
“One thing you know about Conor McGregor, is that he is most definitely in championship condition. I think he’s the far more lethal striker.”
Diaz has shown up looking in shape in photos, but being able to topple the challenge that McGregor, who’s undefeated in the UFC so far, presents. Anik has support for the popular, polarizing brothers from Stockton, so he said he wouldn’t be all that upset at getting his first-ever tattoo if Diaz wins:
“I like the Diaz brothers, so I would actually be okay throwing that 209 on the forearm. But yes, I do think it’s a huge ask for Nate Diaz, so I will get my first tattoo of my life at 37 years old if Conor McGregor loses Saturday.”
Whether or not he has to deliver on that promise, we’ll just have to wait and see.
The Conor McGregor circus will be traveling once again to Las Vegas this coming Saturday at UFC 196. Originally set to chase history versus UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, the featherweight king will now lock horns with fellow trash talker and elite boxer Nate Diaz as part of his scale to welterweight. It is a fight
The Conor McGregor circus will be traveling once again to Las Vegas this coming Saturday at UFC 196.
Originally set to chase history versus UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, the featherweight king will now lock horns with fellow trash talker and elite boxer Nate Diaz as part of his scale to welterweight. It is a fight without implication, but one that will satisfy combat fans worldwide.
On paper, McGregor’s versatility, speed, one-punch power and footwork seems too much for Diaz’s long frame, mid-tier strength, and offensive approach. Not to mention the Irishman has cardio for days and Diaz is taking this fight on just 11 days notice.
Yet when you strip down the sparkly paint and hard-nosed exterior, McGregor’s game is not without holes. He has never faced a longer fighter with crisp boxing. He has also never competed at 170 pounds, which will favor Diaz in almost every facet.
So even though March 5 will mark another historic appearance for “The Notorious,” things may not end the way we think. Here are five defining reasons why Diaz will spoil the McGregor hype train at UFC 196.
Conor McGregor (19-2) will be making his Welterweight debut on Saturday against Nate Diaz (18-10) at UFC 196 in Las Vegas. Diaz will come into the fight as the taller and lengthier fighter (six-feet tall, 76-inch reach). While this is McGregor’s first ever fight at 170 pounds, Diaz has been fighting at both 155 and 170 pounds throughout his MMA career.
The Stockton product is 2-2 at Welterweight in the UFC. The Irishman made an unprecedented move by moving up two whole weight classes and will be fighting a much taller and presumably bigger fighter when competes against Nate Diaz. If McGregor wins on Saturday night, will he fight Robbie Lawler for the Welterweight title afterwards?
UFC welterweight Matt Brown believes so. He recently said on the Last Great MMA Debate podcast that he is the money man.
“If Conor beats Nate, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to fight for whatever title he wants. He’s the money man.”
It would be tough for the UFC to deny McGregor a shot at the welterweight title with the amount of attention and revenue he brings to the promotion.
On a fighting standpoint too, Rafael Dos Anjos is out with a broken foot and Frankie Edgar has a torn groin. There is still no date yet as to when those two would be available to compete. So if McGregor has to pause from both featherweight and lightweight, the welterweight title fight makes sense next. Conor McGregor’s coach even said that he would like to see “Mystic Mac” go up to fight for the 170 pound title.
But first things first, McGregor has a tough task ahead of him in Nate Diaz before he considers a shot at the 170 pound belt.
Conor McGregor (19-2) will be making his Welterweight debut on Saturday against Nate Diaz (18-10) at UFC 196 in Las Vegas. Diaz will come into the fight as the taller and lengthier fighter (six-feet tall, 76-inch reach). While this is McGregor’s first ever fight at 170 pounds, Diaz has been fighting at both 155 and 170 pounds throughout his MMA career.
The Stockton product is 2-2 at Welterweight in the UFC. The Irishman made an unprecedented move by moving up two whole weight classes and will be fighting a much taller and presumably bigger fighter when competes against Nate Diaz. If McGregor wins on Saturday night, will he fight Robbie Lawler for the Welterweight title afterwards?
UFC welterweight Matt Brown believes so. He recently said on the Last Great MMA Debate podcast that he is the money man.
“If Conor beats Nate, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to fight for whatever title he wants. He’s the money man.”
It would be tough for the UFC to deny McGregor a shot at the welterweight title with the amount of attention and revenue he brings to the promotion.
On a fighting standpoint too, Rafael Dos Anjos is out with a broken foot and Frankie Edgar has a torn groin. There is still no date yet as to when those two would be available to compete. So if McGregor has to pause from both featherweight and lightweight, the welterweight title fight makes sense next. Conor McGregor’s coach even said that he would like to see “Mystic Mac” go up to fight for the 170 pound title.
But first things first, McGregor has a tough task ahead of him in Nate Diaz before he considers a shot at the 170 pound belt.
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