Wait Until You Hear The Plans For Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor II…
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before.
Despite the fact that featherweight champion Conor McGregor was thoroughly picked apart by Nate Diaz in a welterweight bout at March 5’s UFC 196 from Las Vegas, a report has surfaced from MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani that the promotion is actually planning on booking a rematch of the blockbuster bout in the main event of July 9’s massive UFC 200 pay-per-view (PPV) event.
Stepping in only 10 days’ notice for lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, Diaz famously out-struck and rocked McGregor on the feet at UFC 196 before absolutely dominating him on the ground to score an emphatic second-round submission via rear-naked choke. There were signs that McGregor may fare better in a rematch, however, as he won the first round with several big strikes to bloody Diaz before gassing in the next frame.
The rematch will reportedly take place at welterweight, leaving concerns for McGregor’s ability to carry the extra weight that may have played a big part in the fact that he tired at UFC 196.
Yet the biggest problem with booking Diaz vs. McGregor II may be the fact that the featherweight title could be out on hold yet again with famished challengers Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo chomping at the bit. McGregor got noticeably bigger in the weeks leading up to UFC 196, and cutting back down to 145, where he often appeared excessively depleted to make the weight, may no longer be in the cards for ‘Notorious.’
Although he did tease another match-up with Diaz in the future, he previously turned down the immediate rematch when asked about in the streets, but apparently the UFC has persuaded him to reconsider. Multiple sources confirmed the possibility and the fight is expected to be announced in the coming days.
There’s no doubt that Diaz vs. McGregor was a massive success for the UFC, reportedly drawing 1.5 million PPV buys. But UFC 200 is supposed to be a special card that rates as one of the best of all-time, and the fans do already know the outcome of the match-up.
And that was when Diaz had merely 10 days to prepare for the Irishman. Do you give ‘Notorious’ a better shot in the rematch, and do you think this is the best choice for UFC 200’s main event?
