UFC 196, which went down this past weekend (March 5, 2016) from Las Vegas, Nevada, shot off fireworks as it was expected to do, and it also made an impact by leaving the MMA world in limbo in ways we perhaps hadn’t seen coming. It was a night of jaw-dropping shock and momentous upsets, specifically regarding the
UFC 196, which went down this past weekend (March 5, 2016) from Las Vegas, Nevada, shot off fireworks as it was expected to do, and it also made an impact by leaving the MMA world in limbo in ways we perhaps hadn’t seen coming.
It was a night of jaw-dropping shock and momentous upsets, specifically regarding the main event, a welterweight showdown between reigning 145-pound kingpin Conor McGregor and late replacement Nate Diaz.
Accepting the bout on just ten days notice, Diaz was the clear underdog with many wondering what type of shape he would appear in on fight night. Despite competing two whole weight classes above his usual home, many had expected the “Notorious” one to once again back up his brash, incessant trash talk and put his devastating left hand to work.
In fact, UFC President Dana White had even expected McGregor to eventually clash with 170-pound titleholder “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler if he were indeed victorious over Diaz.
In mixed martial arts, however, anything can happen. When two elite level fighters set foot into the Octagon and the door gets locked, the expected becomes the unexpected, and all bets go out the window.
In the end, McGregor most likely took the first round over Diaz. He mixed up his striking, and planted his patented left hand on his chin. Unlike his recent featherweight victims, however, Diaz; the larger, heavier man, ate the Irishman’s shots and kept coming forward.
Diaz brushed off everything that was thrown at him, leaving the “Notorious” one in a state of disarray. McGregor, after bloodying Diaz early on, appeared to tire, and the Stockton native’s wealth of experience and grappling prowess proved to be the difference maker.
It was in the second round that Diaz would sink in a rear naked choke, forcing McGregor to tap, and leaving the thousands of Irish fans in attendance silent. It was also in that very moment in which McGregor’s face displayed true struggle, and his hand rapidly tapped that the idea of Lawler vs. McGregor became a far-off fantasy.
While Diaz was undoubtedly the bigger man, the Stockton native is normally a 155-pounder.
Lawler, on the other hand, is a former middleweight, and simply a massive welterweight. Not only that, but his fighting style would likely provide serious issues for a smaller McGregor.
Diaz, while known for his relentless volume striking, isn’t necessarily that powerful of a puncher, and he still wobbled McGregor. Lawler, however, is a different type of animal. The “Ruthless” one possesses brutal knockout power in both hands, and deadly finishing ability. I’d have to assume that he’d simply be too much for McGregor.
With that being said, could we be awaiting a Lawler vs. Diaz scrap in the near future?
“You know what would make a lot of sense? This isn’t the fight I’m making; I’m just saying him (Diaz) and Robbie would make a lot of sense,” White told ESPN’s “SportsCenter” after UFC 196. “His brother beat Robbie. Robbie is now the world champion, and Nate became very, very popular tonight. We’ll see what happens with Nate.”
While the fight would undoubtedly be a massive sell, does Lawler vs. Diaz sound any better than Lawler vs. McGregor?
Diaz would present some interesting stylistic challenges, but one would have to think that Lawler’s power, pressure, and overlooked ability to keep the fight on the feet would be enough to overwhelm the younger Diaz brother.
What do you think of the now wide-open landscape created by UFC 196’s amazing outcome?
(“While the world did gaze with deep amaze, At those fearless men but few, Who bore the fight that freedom’s light, Might shine through the foggy dew…” via Getty)
In 1993, the Gracie family brought in fighters of various fighting disciplines from all around the world — kickboxers, wrestlers, street brawlers, and even a sumo for good measure — with the goal of proving that Jiu Jitsu was the one style that could conquer them all. Twenty three years later, it appears that their theory still holds water.
In a night of absolutely thrilling fights, the aura of invincibility surrounding Conor McGregor — and to a lesser degree, Holly Holm — was shattered by the grappling attack of Nate Diaz and Miesha Tate, respectively. While there are many lessons to take away from the shocking events that unfolded at UFC 196 (and we’ll get into a few below), it is the one that we’ve been hearing for the past two decades that was perhaps the most resounding.
Jiu Jitsu conquers all.
Head after the jump for the full results & highlights from UFC 196.
(“While the world did gaze with deep amaze, At those fearless men but few, Who bore the fight that freedom’s light, Might shine through the foggy dew…” via Getty)
In 1993, the Gracie family brought in fighters of various fighting disciplines from all around the world — kickboxers, wrestlers, street brawlers, and even a sumo for good measure — with the goal of proving that Jiu Jitsu was the one style that could conquer them all. Twenty three years later, it appears that their theory still holds water.
In a night of absolutely thrilling fights, the aura of invincibility surrounding Conor McGregor — and to a lesser degree, Holly Holm — was shattered by the grappling attack of Nate Diaz and Miesha Tate, respectively. While there are many lessons to take away from the shocking events that unfolded at UFC 196 (and we’ll get into a few below), it is the one that we’ve been hearing for the past two decades that was perhaps the most resounding.
Jiu Jitsu conquers all.
Head after the jump for the full results & highlights from UFC 196.
If we’ve learned one other thing about MMA in these 23 years, it’s that no one is unbeatable. Heading into yet another last-minute replacement bout with Nate Diaz, it seemed as if Conor McGregor might just be reaching beyond his grasp by attempting to jump up *two* weight classes to take on Diaz. McGregor’s prediction of an early KO seemed well-founded when looking over his record (and completely ignoring Diaz’s), but when Diaz ate his shots and kept pressing forward — like the Diaz brothers have done time and time again — the Irishman eventually crumbled.
Things started off well for McGregor, though, with the Notorious one tagging Diaz early and often with his…well…notorious left hand and cutting Diaz open early. The problem was that, like Anderson Silva before him, McGregor became almost entirely reliant on his power to try put away a notoriously (that’s the last time I’ll use that word, I promise) tough fighter. Rather than butchering the body with constant, varied combinations like he had in previous contests, McGregor went headhunting, and largely came up short when forced to deal with Diaz’s reach and size advantage.
And then, midway through the second round, Diaz found his riddum. Perhaps it was the sudden jump up in weight that became too much for McGregor’s body to handle (as Joe Lauzon suggested it would), or perhaps it was Diaz’s notoriously insane pace, but McGregor got tired, and then, he got rocked. His arms heavy, his chin tested like it had never been before, McGregor became the “panic wrestler” of his own nightmares, and all but sealed his fate the moment he decided to engage in a grappling contest with a Gracie Jiu Jitsu black belt.
As anyone who has been able to separate McGregor’s pre-fight antics from his genuine personality could have predicted, the featherweight champion has taken his loss like a truly humble, honest human being. “Never ever shy away from challenges. Never run from adversity. Face yourself head on,” wrote McGregor on Instagram, a bit of advice that someone like Ronda Rousey could stand to hear.
Of course, this sport is comprised of nothing if not fickle fans…and even more fickle fighters, as it turns out. Jose Aldo and Rafael Dos Anjos have both taken to Twitter to bash McGregor for his performance, with the former calling him a “pussy” with “soap hands” despite, you know, this being a thing that happened. So while it looks like a trip back to 145 and a fight with Frankie Edgar might be next for McGregor, let’s all give the man his due credit for being the only current UFC champion truly willing to fight anyone, anytime. And while we’re at it, let’s give Diaz his due respect for being a goddamn badass powered by an almost unbreakable will.
Speaking of unbreakable will, Miesha Tate, ladies and gentleman. Until Saturday, the former title challenger was easily most known for her pair of one-sided defeats to Ronda Rousey, which really undersells what “Cupcake” has been able to accomplish in her career. Whether it’s submitting Marloes Coenen for the Strikeforce title, out wrestling olympic medalist Sara McMann, or what she was able to accomplish against Holm, Tate is just one of those fighters who simply can’t be counted out. The evolution of her game has been nothing short of remarkable to witness over the years, and her will to win has arguably been even more impressive.
Headed into the fifth round against Holm in a back-and-forth fight that had seen her nearly finish the champ in a dominant second round, then get picked apart on the feet in the third and fourth, Tate’s corner had her convinced that she needed a finish to win. While not entirely true, it was a perfect example of honest cornering being a key to victory. After a tie-up against the cage, Tate locked in a iron-clad rear-naked choke that sent Holm into panic mode. Holm attempted to throw Tate off in the scramble, but it all comes back to that unbreakable will. Tate held on, Holm went out, and suddenly, finally, Tate’s dream of becoming a champion had been realized.
Look, we’re not going to act like Rousey vs. Tate 3 isn’t something fans will be interested in, because that would be ludicrous. However, one can’t help but feel disappointed by how quickly the former champ has gone from someone who would literally walk out on interviews if you asked her about fighting to a someone suddenly ready to “get back to work,” all because the person who embarrassed her is no longer the champion. To borrow a phrase from Jon Snowden, it is quite possibly “the least martial thing ever.” And the UFC is rewarding her for it. Outstanding.
Check out the full list of UFC 196 results below.
Main card
Nate Diaz def. Conor McGregor via submission (RNC) (2nd, 4:12)
Miesha Tate def. Holly Holm via submission (RNC) (R5, 3:30)
Ilir Latifi def. Gian Villante via unanimous decision
Corey Anderson def. Tom Lawlor via unanimous decision
Amanda Nunes def. Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision
Undercard
Siyar Bahadurzada def. Brandon Thatch via sub (arm triangle) (3rd, 4:11)
Nordine Taleb def. Erick Silva via second-round KO (1:34)
Vitor Miranda def. Marcelo Guimaraes via second-round TKO (1:09)
Darren Elkins def. Chas Skelly via unanimous decision
Diego Sanchez def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision
Jason Saggo def. Justin Salas via first-round TKO (4:31)
Teruto Ishihara def. Julian Erosa via second-round KO (0:34)
In case you missed it, we have a full breakdown of the biggest fights from UFC 196, including Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz & Miesha Tate vs. Holly Holm… So UFC 196 is in the rear view, and the mixed martial arts world collectively gets back to reality following one of the biggest events in modern
In case you missed it, we have a full breakdown of the biggest fights from UFC 196, including Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz & Miesha Tate vs. Holly Holm…
So UFC 196 is in the rear view, and the mixed martial arts world collectively gets back to reality following one of the biggest events in modern history. It’s quite easy to forget that the original lightweight title fight between Rafael dos Anjos and Conor McGregor had been taken away, as the pay-per-view card rocked the foundations even without the full line up. Buoyed by a number of shocking upsets and highlight reel moments, UFC 196 delivered in a big way.
So let’s start with the co-main event of the evening, Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate for the UFC women’s bantamweight title. Holm was hoping to embark on a long run as champion following her crushing upset over Ronda Rousey last year, and her first defense against Miesha Tate would prove to be pivotal in making this dream a reality. Unfortunately for ‘The Preacher’s Daughter,’ Tate was a different beast than we’ve ever seen, and came to win.
Up until round five, this was a very tentative fight, with neither woman appearing willing to play their entire hand. But Tate was clearly planning Holm’s demise, and it was an ugly one at that. She’d been kept at arm’s length for four rounds, but ‘Cupcake’ never gave up trying. Perhaps she planned for the fifth round finish, or maybe it was her persistence that led to the eventual opening, either way it was one of the craziest final moments in a fight to watch live.
As Miesha Tate took the back of Holly Holm, there was a sense that this was the moment the belt would change hands yet again. From the standing position ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ attempted to flip Tate over, but it didn’t work, in fact it exposed Holm’s position even further, and Tate clamped on with the rear naked choke. Holm appeared to remain calm, but ‘Cupcake’ already had the choke secured under the chin, with her left hand firmly grasping the back of the now former champion’s head, and her right hand locked in place on her own bicep.
It looked as though Holm was ready to tap, and almost did, but it turned out to be the movements of an unconscious and now fallen champion. Tate and her team were elated, but we witnessed one of the most humble and down to earth champions fall from grace in the UFC 196 co-main event. It was a sobering moment to say the least, but such is life in the fight game. The key to Tate getting past Holm was an excellent mix of head movement and unpredictable footwork, and dogged determination.
Now, on to one of the most brash and outspoken characters in MMA history.
skip over the page for the detailed breakdown of conor mcgregor vs nate diaz
See Conor McGregor’s reaction to that hate here… Conor McGregor rode in to UFC 196 on a hype train like very few before. Facing Nate Diaz in a welterweight showdown, the UFC featherweight champion proved he had no fear of moving up in to unfamiliar territory as far as weight is concerned, but it was not
Conor McGregor rode in to UFC 196 on a hype train like very few before. Facing Nate Diaz in a welterweight showdown, the UFC featherweight champion proved he had no fear of moving up in to unfamiliar territory as far as weight is concerned, but it was not a gamble that paid off. In fact, it probably couldn’t have gone much worse for ‘The Notorious,’ as he was finished in the second round by a rampant Diaz.
The Stockton bad boy wasn’t always in charge though, as it looked like McGregor was getting the better of the striking exchanges in the opening round. ‘The Notorious’ came out confident in the second, but this only played in to Diaz’s hands, as he began countering and landing clean. McGregor’s hands were low which was a big mistake, enabling Diaz to utilise his reach to perfection, and the Stockton slap’s marked the beginning of the end for the Irish boxer.
So McGregor likely goes back to the featherweight division to defend the title he defeated Jose Aldo for at UFC 194. His trip to 170 pounds didn’t work out, but also would never have happened if Rafael dos Anjos were not injured. Perhaps we’d be telling a very different tale if the lightweight champion had made it to the March 5 pay-per-view. What we do know is that the internet can be a very cruel place, and in similar style to when Ronda Rousey lost at UFC 193, McGregor was subject to a backlash from online fans.
Rather unlike ‘Rowdy’ before him, the Irishman is not shying away from the negative vibes. Facing things head on, McGregor sent a statement to fans, haters, Jose Aldo, Nate Diaz and the rest of the MMA world.
continue reading to see conor mcgregor’s message to the haters
A photo posted by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on
Talking of Jose Aldo, the former undisputed featherweight champion has also been active on social media since McGregor’s loss. We saw how he trolled McGregor in defeat, and now ‘Scarface’ has sent a message to Frankie Edgar about who should fight for the 145-pound title next.
In a fashion we’ve now come to expect of Aldo, he isn’t exactly understanding of ‘The Answer’s’ plight.
continue overleaf for aldo’s message to edgar
Jose Aldo Junior tells Frankie Edgar to wait his turn; advises Conor McGregor to go to a ‘real gym’ ahead of their UFC 200 rematch!
UFC color commentator Jon Anik made waves earlier this week when he made a bold statement regarding UFC 196’s main event between featherweight champion Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz. Heading into the bout, McGregor was a massive favorite over the late replacement Diaz, and Anik believed that the “Notorious” one would get the job done.
UFC color commentator Jon Anik made waves earlier this week when he made a bold statement regarding UFC 196’s main event between featherweight champion Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz.
Heading into the bout, McGregor was a massive favorite over the late replacement Diaz, and Anik believed that the “Notorious” one would get the job done.
Anik was so confident in the Irishman that he offered to get a ‘209’, which is the area code of Diaz’s home in Stockton, California, tattoo if Diaz were to win.
Well, Anik has been forced to eat his words, as Diaz shocked the world last night (March 5, 2016), submitting McGregor via rear naked choke in the second round.
“Yo! Yo! Yo!” Diaz yelled. “Jon Anik better get a motherf—ing ‘209’ tattoo or ima whoop his little ass.”
Later on during a media scrum, Diaz was asked if he would pay for the tattoo, responding in a friendly, and joking matter:
“No! Jon Anik should pay for his own tattoo!” Diaz replied when asked if he would pay for what would be Anik’s first ever ink work. “He’s the one who said I was going to lose, and he said he was going to get this tattoo.”
“…I’m just kidding,” Diaz said with a laugh. “Jon Anik, you ain’t got to get no tattoo.”
Although Diaz laughed it off, Anik took to his official twitter account to praise the Stockton native for his spectacular performance:
Looking for the finest tattoo artist in South Florida. All hail Nate Diaz. Honored to pay tribute to the Diaz bros. & an all-time great win.
For Frankie Edgar, there was no better time to make his plea to face Conor McGregor than a public audience.
Edgar, a former UFC lightweight titleholder, was on-set for FOX Sports 1’s coverage of UFC 196 this past Saturday night. “The Answer” sat and watched with everyone else as McGregor suffered a submission defeat at the hands of Nate Diaz.
The loss, though, did not cost McGregor his featherweight title – and that is something Edgar so desperately seeks.
“I’m assuming he has no other choice but to come back down and defend his featherweight title and I’m waiting him,” Edgar said. “I know (Jose) Aldo is vying for the rematch. He had his chance. Conor beat Aldo in 13 seconds.
I’m coming for it and I’m getting my belt. There’s an unknown with me. I’m going to be bothering these guys. I want this fight.”
Edgar has earned victories in each of his last five fights, including a finish of Chad Mendes last year. He was unsuccessful in his first attempt at winning the featherweight belt, falling via decision to Aldo in 2013.
For Frankie Edgar, there was no better time to make his plea to face Conor McGregor than a public audience.
Edgar, a former UFC lightweight titleholder, was on-set for FOX Sports 1’s coverage of UFC 196 this past Saturday night. “The Answer” sat and watched with everyone else as McGregor suffered a submission defeat at the hands of Nate Diaz.
The loss, though, did not cost McGregor his featherweight title – and that is something Edgar so desperately seeks.
“I’m assuming he has no other choice but to come back down and defend his featherweight title and I’m waiting him,” Edgar said. “I know (Jose) Aldo is vying for the rematch. He had his chance. Conor beat Aldo in 13 seconds.
I’m coming for it and I’m getting my belt. There’s an unknown with me. I’m going to be bothering these guys. I want this fight.”
Edgar has earned victories in each of his last five fights, including a finish of Chad Mendes last year. He was unsuccessful in his first attempt at winning the featherweight belt, falling via decision to Aldo in 2013.
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