6 Things I Learned From Conor McGregor VS Nate Diaz
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1. Never rule out McGregor
Prior to last evening’s UFC rematch, the majority of pundits, fans and fighters ruled out McGregor out saying that there was no way he could defeat Diaz who this time was coming in on a full training camp.
What they failed to acknowledge was the fact that McGregor would also get better from the first fight and last night he showed all the benefits of his new training regime with far superior cardio, energy conservation, and fight management.
McGregor maintained throughout the build up not to dismiss his chances and ultimately he was proven correct once again.
2. McGregor should fight at 155 pounds
McGregor looked much better fighting at 170-pounds than he did back in March but still last night it didn’t look right seeing him fight at welterweight.
Diaz did well last evening to use his superior size and strength to push McGregor against the cage and it was only McGregor’s outstanding will and determination that stopped him from being taken down later on in the fight.
McGregor is not big enough to fight at welterweight and that’s a fact. He also cuts way too much weight these days to make the 145-pounds weight limit, the division which he is currently the champion of.
For the sake of his health, McGregor should now fight at lightweight and 155-pounds which was the original plan earlier this year in March before Rafael dos Anjos pulled out of their fight at UFC 196.
3. Diaz is incredibly tough
This wasn’t so much something we learned last evening but more something that was more confirmed and underlined.
Like he did in the first fight, Nate Diaz took some of McGregor’s biggest shots and still refused to be put away.
Instead, the American took them and volleyed back with his own strikes without ever taking a step back. Any man that can be put down on three separate occasions by a McGregor straight left and rise to his feet deserves all the praise in the world. It was bravery of the highest order but who expected anything less?
4 . McGregor vs Diaz III will happen… But not right now
Now the two have one victory each over each other the inevitable decider third fight will without question take place.
UFC fans may want to just check their excitement for the minute though. UFC President Dana White confirmed to multiple outlets last night that the trilogy fight between the two will not happen right away.
“We’re definitely not doing this a third time right now,” White told FS1. “I don’t think there’s anybody that doesn’t want to see this fight again, but Conor’s either going to go defend his title or give his title up and then we’ll figure out where to go from there.”
5. McGregor doesn’t fancy a Jose Aldo rematch
McGregor has his options open right now and he will likely have a big say on who he does eventually go on to face. One match he doesn’t seem to care for right now is his former nemesis Jose Aldo and speaking at the post-fight press conference, the Irishman was quick to dismiss his chances of rematching the Brazilian.
“How long was I going back and forth with Jose? That must have been a two-year build up. He pulled out last minute. I continued to fight someone else. Then we rescheduled, two-year round-the-world deal with that boy and then he stepped in and I beat him in 13 seconds,” McGregor said following the close of UFC 202.
“It’s hard for me to get excited about that, especially after his last performance. It was a decision, he didn’t go out and get it. He didn’t go out and get it like I wanted him to get it. So I don’t know, we’ll see.”
6. Diaz and McGregor need time off
After last night’s 25-minute war, both Diaz and McGregor need to take some time out.
Both men were understandably looking worse for wear in the post-fight press conference after. McGregor walked in on a pair of crutches while Diaz spoke about multiple injuries he’d suffered in the build-up to the fight.
McGregor and Diaz deserve to go lie on a beach for a few weeks and count their record-setting fight purses while they recover.
Both will no doubt want to be in contention for the historic UFC 205 card taking place in New York for the first time on November 12, but they should really take their time and make sure they recover fully from last night’s epic encounter.