Conor McGregor picked up a huge win over his arch nemesis Nate Diaz in the main event of last night’s (Sat., August 20, 2016) UFC 202 from Las Vegas, even if it was by a close decision. A second consecutive loss to Diaz – a tough and talented competitor, but not a top three fighter
Conor McGregor picked up a huge win over his arch nemesis Nate Diaz in the main event of last night’s (Sat., August 20, 2016) UFC 202 from Las Vegas, even if it was by a close decision.
A second consecutive loss to Diaz – a tough and talented competitor, but not a top three fighter at lightweight or welterweight – would have been extremely detrimental to McGregor’s image. The “Notorious” one became the biggest star in the sport because of his unique personality, background, and, most importantly, his mouth. A loss would have made his hard-hitting persona, with which he intimidated and psyched out so many previous opponents, a much tougher sell to the buying public.
But with the close yet convincing victory over Diaz, McGregor can breathe a sigh of relief knowing he is unequivocally still the biggest draw in MMA, and he can call his own shots to at least some extent.
With that in mind, here are the five fights that make the most sense for McGregor to take next.
Following his close and controversial majority decision win over rival Nate Diaz in a classic bout at last night’s (Sat., August 20, 2016) UFC 202 from Las Vegas, the MMA world is in full discussion about just what – or whom – Conor McGregor’s next move will involve. Diaz stated that he wouldn’t fight until he
Following his close and controversial majority decision win over rival Nate Diaz in a classic bout at last night’s (Sat., August 20, 2016) UFC 202 from Las Vegas, the MMA world is in full discussion about just what – or whom – Conor McGregor’s next move will involve.
“We’re definitely not doing this a third time right now. I don’t think there’s anybody that doesn’t want to see this fight again, but Conor’s either going to go defend his title or give his title up and then we’ll figure out where to go from there.”
Much of the talk centered on “The Notorious” today involves him cutting back down to featherweight (his last two bouts against Diaz were at welterweight) to defend his 145-pound title against interim champ Jose Aldo, whom he knocked out to originally win the belt.
McGregor himself hinted that’s where his career could take him next, but with a noticeable foot injury reportedly stemming from Diaz checking one of his many low kicks last night, the future, at least immediately, is somewhat uncertain for the UFC’s golden draw.
There’s hardly a doubt that a third match between he and Diaz would do some of the biggest business in UFC history, and it could be tough to think that a second bout with Aldo would do the same. It will always be there, however, and Diaz can probably be taken on his word that he won’t be fighting anyone else in the meantime.
It seems like a curious proposal from White, too, as he’s repeatedly stated McGregor would be forced to move back down to featherweight in an age where the biggest potential money-making fight is often booked instead of the one that makes the most sense according to rank. “Notorious” also called out for a third bout with Diaz, this time at the veteran’s usual home of 155 pounds, in his post-fight interview in the Octagon. What should the UFC do with its biggest star next?
Last night Conor McGregor risked it all to a degree most human beings would never consider. He risked his career, his reputation, his entire swaggering, over-top-top, best in all the land persona, and he did it when didn’t have to.
Life is hard s…
Last night Conor McGregor risked it all to a degree most human beings would never consider. He risked his career, his reputation, his entire swaggering, over-top-top, best in all the land persona, and he did it when didn’t have to.
Life is hard sometimes. That’s a fact, and also probably a bad way to start a story, but here we are. Life is difficult for everyone and even someone who chooses to live their life carefully – never daring to take a risk – will experience pain, sadness, humiliation and defeats too numerous to count. Understandably, people tend to avoid those scenarios. They stick to the good moments: sunshine, swimming pools, and movies on demand. Those little yogurt cups with the fruit in the separate chamber. I understand petting dogs is a very popular activity. And whatever snapchat is, people seem to enjoy it.
They don’t enjoy risks. They don’t enjoy putting themselves in a situation where losing everything they have is not only possible but likely. They don’t ask for gut checks, or to be held accountable, or to be judged by the world. The human brain just isn’t wired that way. Conor McGregor asked for exactly that.
Conor McGregor lost to Nate Diaz by submission at UFC 196 and then walked to the press conference and immediately asked for another fight with the guy who’d just beaten him. He’d lost to a bigger opponent, at a higher weight class, on short notice and then asked for a rematch at that same weight. A weight where he had a distinct disadvantage. He asked for it in front of the whole world. A different breed of fighter may taken some time off to regroup. Or requested an easier fight. Or taken the rematch but insisted it be contested closer to their own weight class of 155 pounds, rather than 170.
But he waded right back into the fray, against a man all wrong for him, in a move that seemed brash bordering on incredibly stupid.
He’s one of the biggest stars in a sport with very few of them and he didn’t have to do that. He had every option available to a top fighter. But he had something to prove, he needed people to know. That wasn’t him. So he took a huge risk.
He’s been taking them for a while. When Jose Aldo, then featherweight champion got hurt and withdrew from their fight at the 11th hour Conor took on a very dangerous, and very different, Chad Mendes. He was a wrestler, which was supposedly Conor’s kryptonite. Conor knocked him out in two.
When then lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos suffered an injured and pulled out of their fight at UFC 196 Conor agreed to take a fight against Nate Diaz on ten day’s notice. That time, he lost. His first loss inside the Octagon.
It’s news to absolutely no one that the world demands a winner. The UFC, the fans, sponsors, all value winning above everything else, and that value has shaped many fighter’s careers. Most play it safe. Conor dared to be great. Two losses in a row would have been devastating to him and his mystique. When you claim you’re the best and you’ve built yourself up with a series of charismatic promos, and by dominating press conferences and stealing thunder at every opportunity, you can’t afford to lose two in a row. It’s hard to be a star in the fight world, and it’s even harder when you’ve painted an orange and green target on your back.
He gambled huge and risked it all, and he almost lost.
He starts out the first round looking sharp, deploying leg kicks and unloading with his big left hand. He’s fast and technical and firing on all cylinders. Nate seems surprised by the tactic but in typical Diaz fashion appears uninterested in making adjustments. Conor is outstriking Nate and pacing himself. When he drops Nate he doesn’t waste energy trying to get the finish. He stops, waits for Nate to get up and then goes back to work.
In the second it’s more of the same, with Conor throwing and Nate’s leg and face receiving. Nate, bruised and battered, comes forward but pays the price for it. But then Conor seems to tire, just a bit. Nate senses it immediately, like a shark smelling blood or a writer an opportunity for a cliche. Nate comes to life, smiling, looking like a guy who’s just learned your secret. He pushes Conor agains the fence and unloads with a barrage of head shots.
In the third Nate seems rejuvenated and Conor seems like the undersized and overtaxed guy from the first fight. At one point Nate remembers he’s a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and tries to get it to the mat but McGregor successfully defends the takedown. The round is all Diaz.
Conor rallies to take the fourth. Both men are tired – although Diaz does a better job disguising it – and the pace slows considerably. The fifth goes to Diaz who uses pressure, mixed with takedown attempts. He mauls Conor against the cage but Conor lands the cleaner blows from the outside. With ten seconds left Nate gets a takedown. The fight ends and he helps Conor up…
It’s a very close fight. McGregor waits, pacing. Enduring the no man’s land of uncertainty that is the period of time before the judge’s scores are read.
Was he right to lay it all on the line? Is he back on top, better than ever and ready for what’s next? Or is he a cautionary tale, a warning to other fighters and a reminder to always take the safe bet?
Ideally, he’d have gotten credit either way, for even attempting such a feat. Even if he’d lost, there’s a scenario where he’d be commended for trying, for biting off more than he could chew, for going for it. But that’s not how it works in the world, especially in the fight game. He’d have been mocked by the people who risk nothing, lectured by safety-first types swaddled in figurative bubble wrap. He’d have lost his entire identity as a fighter.
He’d have been forced to reinvent himself, to humble himself, to pose for photos gazing contemplatively off at the sunset, scratching at his chin, “What now…”
The ring announcer takes the mic. Has the gamble paid off, or has his hubris written a check the left hand couldn’t cash?
The judges have it 48-47, 47-47, 48-47 a majority decision for Conor McGregor. And he wins.
After first releasing the individual media scrums that the UFC 202 headliners Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz took part in following their epic five round battle on Saturday night, UFC has finally released the video archive…
https://youtu.be/GC-_qbmdrIQ
After first releasing the individual media scrums that the UFC 202 headliners Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz took part in following their epic five round battle on Saturday night, UFC has finally released the video archives of the post-fight press conferences held for the top fighters from the big pay-per-view event.
Featured above is Nate Diaz’s UFC 202 post-fight press conference. For those interested, you can also watch Diaz’s UFC 202 media scrum for further post-show comments from the winner of the thrilling PPV headliner by clicking here. For video highlights of the McGregor-Diaz 2 bout, click here.
In an riveting display of heart, toughness, and skill, Conor McGregor beat Nate Diaz by decision in a classic bout (full highlights right here) that could end up as 2016’s “Fight of the Year” at last night’s (Sat., August 20, 2016) UFC 202 from Las Vegas. The win was a closely-contested war that many still feel
In an riveting display of heart, toughness, and skill, Conor McGregor beat Nate Diaz by decision in a classic bout (full highlights right here) that could end up as 2016’s “Fight of the Year” at last night’s (Sat., August 20, 2016) UFC 202 from Las Vegas.
The win was a closely-contested war that many still feel Diaz should have taken home, but with the controversial scorecards now in the record books, the discussion will quickly move on to just whom McGregor will face next. Although he teased a move back down to his original weight class of featherweight to finally defend his title, Diaz was none too keen on that prospect in his post-fight media scrum (transcribed by MMA Fighting), where he showed up vaping cannabis oil, proclaiming he wouldn’t be fighting until he met McGregor once again:
“I’m not doing sh*t until we go for round three,” Diaz said at the event’s post-fight press conference. “You won’t be seeing me until then. If they want to set it up as soon as possible, let’s do it. But I don’t think it’s a very good business move for him to be taking any other fights, and he’s a businessman, so we’ll see what happens.”
McGregor called for the same thing after his close win last night, adding that he wants the rubber match to be contested at a weight of 155 pounds. A normal lightweight himself, Diaz revealed he wanted the second fight to be contested at 155:
“I’ve been a lightweight the whole time,” Diaz said. “I think I walked into the cage tonight probably at 177, 176, 175. F*ck, maybe lighter. So hell yeah, that’s what I wanted this fight at, so I could have a six-pack. You know you want to be in a picture with a six-pack.”
It will now remain to be seen if the UFC actually decides to go for the third match-up that would no doubt be the most anticipated trilogy fight in UFC history and one of its biggest bouts overall. But at the moment, something else – like the oft-discussed return to 145 – could be in the cards for McGregor. Regardless of what happens, Diaz detailed his belief that he was changing the game by standing up for the compensation he believes fighters should be paid.
Diaz gave “The Notorious” a slight amount of credit for adjusting and lasting until the championship rounds with him the second time, but he also noted his training was allegedly inspired by his own triathlon-centered routine. Heaping praise on his accomplishments, Diaz again said his own renegade persona was why a fighter like McGregor is getting paid with a record purse:
“Change is happening right now,” Diaz said. “If you want to be successful in this business and you want to do good in this business, you’re going to have to follow the leader. And if you’re going to say that somebody else is the leader, you got it wrong. Look at Conor. What did Conor do for this fight? He did exactly what I told his ass to do. He hopped on a bike — a little amateur style, he didn’t have no clips, he didn’t have no helmet, that’s not how you ride but he tried — and he hired all top-10 people to come in from wherever.
“He hired these people and that was a good job, but who taught you how to do that? Your sensei here, man. It’s like, follow the leader as far as the martial artists, follow the leader as far as the businessmen. Like, sh*t, if you think that I’m tripping and just talking out of my ass, then you’re obviously not that bright because I’ve supposed to have been fired already 20 times from this organization, and look where I’m at now. Still doing my thing on the main card.”
Watch the full UFC 202 media scrum with Diaz right here:
UFC 202 was everything we hoped for and more. The main event rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz was arguably one of the most entertaining UFC fights ever. After months of hype and build up, the two fierce rivals concluded the second chapter of their story with a thrilling five-round war. The evening finished
UFC 202 was everything we hoped for and more. The main event rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz was arguably one of the most entertaining UFC fights ever. After months of hype and build up, the two fierce rivals concluded the second chapter of their story with a thrilling five-round war. The evening finished with the Irishman’s hand raised in victory by majority decision. It was a great fight, but not without debate in the aftermath.
A brief glance at the striking stats shows Diaz had the most volume in total, although it doesn’t tell the entire story. One huge tale to come out of the UFC 202 main event is the money involved, specifically that going to McGregor. A report on MMAFighting.comrevealed the Irish star pocketed a whopping $3 million purse. McGregor was the first UFC fighter to ever earn a disclosed purse of $1 Million at UFC 196.
War Wages
The record had previously been set by disgraced UFC 200 competitor Brock Lesnar after his fight with Mark Hunt. The WWE superstar would fail two drug tests, both of which were revealed after July 9, but went home with a cool $2.5 Million check. There’s big money in the fight game today, although reserved for very few of the UFC’s ever-growing roster.
Another event and another record shattered for Conor McGregor. His win will probably signal the end of his ‘money weight’ fights for the moment, but his future at featherweight isn’t exactly certain right now.
Sh*t, meet fan
After his win over Diaz at UFC 202, McGregor said ‘sh*t’ would ‘hit the fan’ in the featherweight division. With Aldo taking out the only other clear contender aside from Max Holloway, it’s questionable how many fights are left for ‘The Notorious’ at 145. With millions of dollars available regardless of weight divisions, there’s also a chance the popular Irishman will opt out of putting his body through the terrible stress of making the featherweight limit.
Stay tuned to LowKickMMA for more updates after UFC 202!
Last night Conor McGregor risked it all to a degree most human beings would never consider. He risked his career, his reputation, his entire swaggering, over-top-top, best in all the land persona, and he did it when didn’t have to.
