Tag: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Conor McGregor

Dana White: Nate Diaz Isn’t Coming In Out Of Shape

After lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos pulled out of his scheduled bout with featherweight champion Conor McGregor earlier this week, fan favorite Nate Diaz stepped up on extremely short notice to meet the “Notorious” one in the main event of March 5’s UFC 196. McGregor, the 145-pound champion, was originally set to fight dos Anjos

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After lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos pulled out of his scheduled bout with featherweight champion Conor McGregor earlier this week, fan favorite Nate Diaz stepped up on extremely short notice to meet the “Notorious” one in the main event of March 5’s UFC 196.

McGregor, the 145-pound champion, was originally set to fight dos Anjos at 155-pounds, but his fight with Diaz will now take place at 170-pounds.

Apparently there was issues with Diaz getting down to lightweight on such short notice, and the two agreed to compete at welterweight.

The weight issues and the short notice may lead some to believe that the Stockton native isn’t in the best shape, but UFC president Dana White assured LA Today that Diaz is in tip top condition and ready to go:

“Nate Diaz has been training for a triathlon,” White revealed. “Nate Diaz is in phenomenal shape right now.

“So he’s not coming in out of shape. He’s in phenomenal shape right now.”

Continuing on, White admitted that featherweights Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar were called first, but neither man was fit to compete, leading the UFC to bring in Diaz for the blockbuster event:

“We called a lot of people. Our first choices were Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar. Neither guy could do the fight. Frankie Edgar’s going crazy because I said he couldn’t do the fight. He’s injured. He’s injured and couldn’t take the fight,” White clarified.

“This business is a business of opportunity. When opportunity knocks, you jump on it or you don’t. In a perfect world, you’ve had six to eight weeks to train, you know the guy you’re fight and you have no injuries and everything goes perfectly. Nate Diaz and a lot of other guys, too — Urijah Faber was on the list, Anthony Pettis, “Cowboy” Cerrone — but at the end of the day, Nate and Conor really want to fight.”

McGregor’s title was never on the line at this event, and he won’t be fighting for a second title anymore either. At the end of the day, however, White claims that this fight isn’t about belts:

“This isn’t about numbers or belts,” White said. “It’s about two guys who want to fight.”

Which illustrious trash talker will come out victorious next week?

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Coach: It’s Going To Be An Early Night For Nate Diaz

With lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos pulling out of his scheduled super fight with featherweight champion Conor McGregor, it was announced last night that Nate Diaz will step in to meet McGregor on just 11 day’s notice in the main event of March 5’s UFC 195. While a title won’t be on the line, McGregor

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With lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos pulling out of his scheduled super fight with featherweight champion Conor McGregor, it was announced last night that Nate Diaz will step in to meet McGregor on just 11 day’s notice in the main event of March 5’s UFC 195.

While a title won’t be on the line, McGregor vs. Diaz is still a huge fight in its own right. Not only do the two possess contrasting styles of striking, but they also happen to be two of the best trash talkers in the sport, even having a history with each other to show for it.

As for how the fight will play out, it’s hard to tell given the short notice.

The “Notorious” one infamously predicted that he would “dust” dos Anjos in less than a minute, and it appears as if Team McGregor feels just as confident going up against the Stockton native.

McGregor’s long-time head coach, John Kavanagh, recently spoke on the fight, noting some of Diaz’s past performances, including his 2013 knockout loss to Josh Thomson.

All in all, Kavanagh doesn’t feel as if this one is going to last too long (via The42.ie):

“You must be ready for every type of opponent. As for Nate, if you look at his last fight when he beat Michael Johnson by decision, Michael comes from a great team but he is quite new to striking, yet he still managed to land a lot of shots. Josh Thomson badly lit Nate up when they fought in 2013. The Diaz brothers are known for walking through shots but Nate doesn’t quite have Nick’s ability to absorb punishment. It’s a different ballgame when you face somebody who has been striking for their entire life, as opposed to a wrestler who’s still trying to develop their striking. I think it will be an early night for Nate.”

The weight at which this bout is taking place at is also interesting to note.

McGregor, who holds a title at 145-pounds, was jumping up ten pounds to clash with dos Anjos, but he will now move up two whole weight classes to fight Diaz at welterweight.

Who do you see walking away with the victory in this highly anticipated affair?

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Nate Diaz To Conor McGregor: Get On Your Knees And Beg

UFC featherweight champion the “Notorious” Conor McGregor was set to move up in weight and challenge lightweight kingpin Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of March 5’s UFC 196. A highly anticipated super fight for sure, the MMA world was let down earlier today (February 23, 2016) when it was announced that dos Anjos

The post Nate Diaz To Conor McGregor: Get On Your Knees And Beg appeared first on LowKick MMA.

UFC featherweight champion the “Notorious” Conor McGregor was set to move up in weight and challenge lightweight kingpin Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of March 5’s UFC 196.

A highly anticipated super fight for sure, the MMA world was let down earlier today (February 23, 2016) when it was announced that dos Anjos would be forced out of the bout due to a foot injury.

On just over a week’s notice, it’s tough to find a replacement opponent for McGregor, but the UFC is attempting to do so, and UFC president Dana White has confirmed that the “Notorious” one will remain on the card.

However, McGregor, famously dubbed as the “money fight”, is obviously a huge draw, making the task a tad bit easier.

Many UFC fighters were quick to jump at the opportunity via social media, and it appears to be a two man race between fan favorites Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and outspoken bad boy Nate Diaz, two men who both have history with McGregor.

Cerrone just fought this past weekend (February 21, 2013) at welterweight, submitting Alex Oliveira in the first round at UFC Fight Night 83. It may be tough for him to get down to 155-pounds on such short notice, but it appears as if he will be attempting to do so.

Diaz, on the other hand, was quick to take a shot at McGregor via twitter:

A close friend of the Stockton native also took to twitter to comment on the situation, claiming that an offer had been made to Diaz, but that it wasn’t enough to get him down to lightweight in the time given:

That being said, team Diaz is on board if McGregor were to agree to a catch weight bout:

Who would you like to see the Irish knockout artist scrap with in the wake of dos Anjos’ unfortunate injury?

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Quote: McGregor Is A Simpler Fight Than dos Anjos

Reigning UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is slated to defend his title in the main event of March 5’s UFC 196 against brash and outspoken featherweight champion the “Notorious” Conor McGregor. The Irish challenger will look to become the first man in promotional history to hold two belts at one time, and if he

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Reigning UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is slated to defend his title in the main event of March 5’s UFC 196 against brash and outspoken featherweight champion the “Notorious” Conor McGregor.

The Irish challenger will look to become the first man in promotional history to hold two belts at one time, and if he can topple the Brazilian champion, he intends to defend both titles actively.

Regarding the lightweight division, No. 1-ranked former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez feels as if he’s next in line after the upcoming super fight.

While McGregor has been deemed the ‘Money Fight’, Alvarez actually has his sights set on dos Anjos, who he feels is the superior competitor:

“I would want McGregor because it’s more money and a simpler fight,” Alvarez said to Inside MMA. “He’s the easy guy and more money. Dos Anjos is a bigger challenge. To me, he’s the better fighter. In a perfect world, I’m fighting dos Anjos in June, or July, for the world title.”

Dos Anjos has indeed established himself as the man to beat at 155-pounds, running a demolition course through the division’s elite in recent memory.

However, McGregor isn’t just all talk either. He’s compiled a perfect 7-0 UFC record, and is coming off of a spectacular 13-second destruction of former long-time featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

Who do you see Alvarez eventually squaring off with for the title?

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Conor McGregor Confirms He Will Fight At UFC 200

As the biggest star in not only the UFC, but likely all of mixed martial arts, it’s been widely thought that reigning featherweight champion the “Notorious” Conor McGregor would fight at July’s landmark UFC 200 from Las Vegas, Nevada. However, after shockingly knocking out Jose Aldo at UFC 194, McGregor decided to move up in

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As the biggest star in not only the UFC, but likely all of mixed martial arts, it’s been widely thought that reigning featherweight champion the “Notorious” Conor McGregor would fight at July’s landmark UFC 200 from Las Vegas, Nevada.

However, after shockingly knocking out Jose Aldo at UFC 194, McGregor decided to move up in weight to face off with lightweight kingpin Rafael dos Anjos, attempting to become the first man to simultaneously hold two titles in promotional history.

McGregor will attempt to do this in just a few weeks at March 5’s UFC 196.

According to the brash and outspoken Irishman, who recently spoke with Severe MMA, he will apparently still be competing at UFC 200 before he hopes to once again fight in his home of Ireland:

“Vegas this one, Vegas next one probably because I committed to UFC 200, I did commit to that, then East coast or Dublin.” McGregor said.

With McGregor now confirming that he will compete in July, talk has shifted to just who would be a suitable opponent for the “Notorious” one.

Of course he could defend his 145-pound title, likely against top contender Frankie Edgar. Or perhaps he could put the lightweight strap on the line if he indeed takes out dos Anjos, which of course is no easy task.

But you know McGregor. The Irishman always likes to go big, and the rumors have begun to swirl regarding a possible move up to welterweight in search of a third world title.

According to the “Notorious” one, a move up to 170-pounds is a very realistic possibility, and a move he would be confident with:

“I’m coming for that belt, I’m coming for the next belt, I’m coming for the whole company.” McGregor said.

“Why not go up?”

“They get slower, and they get less free up there, they are stiffer, they are even more stuck than the lightweight division. So I’ll keep going, keep eating, keep training and keep going until all the belts are wrapped up.”

“I’m afraid of no one, I will go up and fight any weight.” McGregor continued. “Anyone can come down and step in that cage with me or any cage and see how they fare, but nobody fares well that’s for sure.”

Could you imagine McGregor vs. “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler for the welterweight title this summer?

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Video: UFC 196 Extended Preview

The most anticipated event of the year is fast approaching as UFC 196 is set to take place on March 5, 2016 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada live on pay-per-view (PPV). The main event will feature a sure super fight, as reigning featherweight champion the “Notorious” Conor McGregor is set

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The most anticipated event of the year is fast approaching as UFC 196 is set to take place on March 5, 2016 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada live on pay-per-view (PPV).

The main event will feature a sure super fight, as reigning featherweight champion the “Notorious” Conor McGregor is set to take on defending 155-pound title holder Rafael dos Anjos.

McGregor has rose to superstardom over the last few years since entering the promotion, winning all seven of his UFC bouts with an impressive six finishes. The Irishman is coming off of a shocking 13-second knockout of former long-time champion Jose Aldo last December.

Dos Anjos on the other hand, has run a demolition course through the lightweight division, establishing himself as a true champion. The Brazilian has compiled five straight victories including wins over former champions Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis, and top contenders Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone.

The excitement doesn’t end there, however, as a second title will be on the line in the co-main event of the evening.

Newly minted bantamweight champion Holly Holm will defend her title for the very first time when she meets former Strikeforce queen Miesha Tate.

“The Preacher’s Daughter”, a multi-time world boxing champion, is coming off of one of the biggest upsets in sport history when she knocked previously dominant champion Ronda Rousey out cold last November.

Tate has won four straight since losing to Rousey and is coming off of a victory over Jessica Eye last July.

Take a deeper look into the training camps of these four fighters with the UFC 196 Extended Preview below courtesy of the UFC:

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