When Conor McGregor (19-3 MMA) steps back in to the octagon against Nate Diaz (20-10 MMA) at UFC 202 in August, it will mark the most important fight of his career.
McGregor will be trying to avenge a second-round submission loss to Diaz which marked the first of his flawless UFC career.
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Prior to his loss to Diaz at UFC 196, Conor McGregor was undefeated in the UFC, had just knocked out the only featherweight champion in UFC history in pound for pound great Jose Aldo and was on top of the MMA world.
McGregor entered the fight with Diaz a huge betting favourite, despite moving up two weight classes from 145 pounds to the 170 pound welterweight limit where he had previously never fought inside the UFC.
The fight started well for McGregor, landing heavy punches to the larger Diaz throughout the first round and bloodying the Stockton natives face. McGregor clearly won the first round and appeared to be having fun on his way towards another spectacular knockout victory.
The second round saw more of the same for the favoured champion, landing clean left hands though the Irishman had begun to slow his pace. Diaz and his never ending gas tank began to pick his up, and started landing solid one two combinations and even his famous ‘Stockton Slap’.
Then half way through the round a perfectly timed one two hurt McGregor, and Diaz began tagging his opponent repeatedly.
This marked the first time we had seen Conor McGregor in an adverse situation inside the UFC and things only got worse from there.
Diaz poured on the pressure landing heavy combinations that had McGregor on wobbly legs, before the featherweight champion shot for a takedown out of desperation. From there it was all Diaz, with the underdog scrambling and mounting the champion, before landing some heavy ground and pound, forcing McGregor to turn and give up his back.
Diaz a Gracie Jui Jitsu black belt and submission specialist, then locked up a rear naked choke, forced McGregor to tap and shocked the world.
Conor McGregor had been able to do something few fighters have, cross over into pop culture. When McGregor announced via twitter an abrupt retirement due to a spat with the UFC brass back in April, it quickly sent the Twittersphere into meltdown and racked up a record breaking amount of re-tweets for an athlete. The notorious one has brought in fans from around the world, sold millions of pay per views and has a cult-like following in his native Ireland.
With the August 2 rematch fast approaching, the question is what if Conor McGregor loses again?
The fight will again be at the 170 pound welterweight limit and will draw massive pay per view numbers, earning millions for both fighters. Should McGregor lose again though, both of those things will decrease significantly for future fights.
His star will no longer shine bright as the world championship he still holds at featherweight and the mystique and intrigue around him will be diminished severely. McGregor’s endless trash talk will hold less and less significance and his bold pre-fight predictions will now appear more of a gimmick.
While his name value will still be more than his peers, and with interesting match-ups awaiting him back at 145 pounds should he decide to return there, the massive checks and pay per view numbers will be substantially less for the post Diaz fights.
The cross over fans with little to no interest in the sport of MMA who have been tuning in just to see if McGregor can back up his highlight reel of one line verbal knockouts, will return to watching whatever it was they watched before, and will enjoy not coughing up $50 for his pay per views every few months.
All of these things makes this fight the most important fight of his career and adds another interesting factor to the upcoming scrap at UFC 202.
Reece Huxley
Roar Rookie
DJW, he did look ill sucking down to 145 but said the other day after the Diaz rematch he's going back down to defend the belt. I think with Aldo beating Frankie that rematch is now huge especially if Conor beats Nate. That's a huge if though
Shaun
Guest
To be honest, I don't think it is what Conor was copping, but more what he was trying to dish out that got him. Almost every combination he threw he was going for a huge knockout. It has worked previously for him, so when he couldn't floor Diaz he was absolutely gassed within a couple of rounds. To win, Conor will need to hold back and go for points and only go for a big knockout if the opportunity arises.
DJW
Guest
I don't know if Connor will be able to make weight for featherweight again. He looked seriously ill at his last weigh in for that weight. He should of always probably been in the next weight class but decided to cut huge amounts of weight to fight smaller guys. I think Davico makes a important point about Nate taking the last fight without proper training. Connor pretty much gave all he had to knock him down last fight and Nate took it then dished out his own punishment. I reckon that would be playing on Connors mind.
Reece Huxley
Roar Rookie
Conor's more driven by money but I dont think he's more driven to win than Nate. Remember the guy won the ultimate fighter 5, has taken lots of losses and punishment and is still around and finally headlining ppv cards and getting paid. They guy never quits. Conor got hurt, tired and quit last time.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Conors a more driven man than Nate. I will himself to victory in the specific training of this. Not just running mountains
Steele
Guest
It was a great fight to watch last time. Both just going toe to toe. Styles make fights as they say. I expect McGregor to win this one, but hope not. His striking was much cleaner than Nates, my querie is his ability to handle getting tagged a few times himself. He didn't cope well last time.
Reece Huxley
Roar Rookie
I agree mate. No doubt with Nate hitting him a lot that took some energy away but will be interesting to see how conor goes in rounds 3,4,5 if the fight gets there. Also if Conor utilizes leg kicks Nate could be in trouble because he almost refuses to check them. Very interesting and fun fight though
Davico55
Guest
I think it is important to remember that Diaz had not done any sparring for months and had been knocking back cold ones with his mates 2 weeks before the fight so the fact Conor was landing on him early in the fight is not surprising. We all know that Diaz is superfit as he does tri's etc in his spare time but nothing but sparring and specific training can help head movement and combinations which explains Conor outstirking him early. What I can't comprehend is how a guy who had supposedly been training for a 5 round title fight allegedly gassed out after a round??? I think too little credit is given to Diaz for rocking Conor and too much emphasis placed on Conor getting tired. Can only see this fight ending the same way unless Conor tries to outpoint Diaz by sticking and staying away from him.