Conor McGregor: I’ll Repay Nate Diaz With A Second Round KO

UFC 202 is just two weeks away and the anticipation continues to boil for the rematch between brash rivals Nate Diaz and UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor.

The two men got the opportunity to answer some questions from the media on a conference call earlier today, and ‘Notorious’ kicked things off by detailing the wildfire that led to his removal from the UFC 200 main event:

“It was a mess when that happened, when 200 fell out, but I got what I had asked for. I wanted time, I wanted time to prepare correct and that’s it. Nate has been doing the run on the shows, and I’ve been chillin, in Cabo, on the yacht. I got what I asked.”

McGregor also claims that he is feeling great heading into his second contest with the Stockton Native, admitting he failed to respect Diaz’s durability and experience the first time out:

“I feel absolutely amazing, I’ve prepared phenomenal. I didn’t give enough credit to Nate’s durability, his experience, he’s a very experienced fighter.

He’s had more UFC fights than I’ve had fights. Also his height and his range, his reactions- I gave no respect to that. I marched forward– In fairness for the first two rounds, for the first round and a half, he was a heavy bag with eyeballs.

I was correcting that but his durability held out, his experience held well for him so this time I’ve been preparing for that. I’ve been preparing for a durable, experienced fighter who has the reach, the height, and the length. And that’s it.

I feel very confident that we will go in and get this win back and put this man away.”

Prior to the epic contest the Irishman, like he regularly does before a bout, made the prediction that he would make quick work of the Gracie jiu jitsu black belt, predicting a first round knockout win over his counterpart.

As we all know that was not to be the case as McGregor was submitted by Diaz with a suffocating rear-naked choke in the closing minute of the second round. This, however, did not stop the 145-pound champ from going out on a limb and making yet another bold prediction for the upcoming contest:

“I was saying I was going to stop the guy in the first round. If I really looked at it I’d have  thought, ‘he has a very soft chin, he’s durable, he’s very experienced, he has the size and the weight on me.’

I think that was the wrong thing to go in expecting. I did go up to KO him in the first round — I marched forward, backed him up against the fence and teed off on his head. I did what I said I would do but respect to him he stuck it out. He was durable, he was experienced, he weathered the storm.

This time, I will be — I mean I’m still gonna march forward, I’m still gonna press him, I’m still gonna push him, theres just gonna be a lot more in my tank. I’m just gonna be a lot more prepared for a man that can stay in there with me.

But even still I struggle to give him past round three if I was to make a prediction, which I will right now, I believe I will repay the favor and KO him inside the second round.”

While many have criticized the Irishman’s suspect ground game, McGregor claims that the difference between he and Diaz does not lie on the ground, but rather the durability and endurance that Diaz had the lion’s share of that night:

“I’m confident in my jiu jitsu. I don’t think — Nate is very skilled on the mat– I don’t think the difference between us in that fight was the jiu jitsu. I think it was the durability, the endurance, the experience.

I think that was the difference. When we were both fresh I ended up on the mat, he caught that kick, he got that takedown and I swept him. I was on top controlling the first round, he tried a triangle and I stopped that.

Looked to pass, he looked to take the legs, I was landing shots, I was– I am confident on the mat with Nate. After that I’ve brought in heavier people, more experienced jiu jitsu people to come and push me daily.

I will be experienced for the jiu jitsu in the later rounds also.”

When asked if a win over Diaz would set up an immediate trilogy bout between the two, McGregor had this to say:

“100 percent. Of course. Maybe not straight away, but most certainly this will be a trilogy fight. Me and the boy have something, and it ain’t finished yet.”

Nate Diaz” width=”639″ height=”399″ />McGregor and Diaz will meet in the main event of UFC 202 live on pay-per-view (PPV), from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 20, 2016.

You can listen to the full media conference call here: