Fans react as UFC welterweight Conor McGregor ascends to the stage during the UFC 196 weigh ins at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Friday, March 4, 2016.
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Conor McGregor’s rise to the top of the UFC came to a dramatic end on Sunday, stunned by rival Nate Diaz.
Instead, Holm and McGregor eagerly accepted matchups at UFC 196 that more cautious champions would have avoided.
It was not the result Conor McGregor had talked about but Nate Diaz beat the Irish fighter in UFC196, to claim the so called “McGregor Belt”.
He entered the fight just 2-3 in his last five, and took the fight on just 10 days notice when lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos was forced to pull out because of a broken foot.
Once McGregor joined him on the stage the decibel levels soared. “I’m humble in victory or defeat”. The loss ended McGregor’s 15-fight winning streak since November 2010. McGregor set a new UFC record with his $1 million disclosed purse for this fight, and he predicted a comfortable win over Diaz, comparing the veteran to a gazelle about to be eaten by a lion.
LAS VEGAS This was the Conor McGregor show. I’m used to it. “It was stupid, and I should have fought it off more”. “I was inefficient with my energy”.
The potential welterweight title fight with Robbie Lawler at UFC 200-a huge money fight that could have eclipsed every other money fight the UFC has ever promoted-is out the window.
Struggling to stay in the fight, McGregor took it to the mat, but it was a move that backfired in stunning fashion as he suffered more punishment from the heavy-hitting Diaz. Diaz also is very slick on the ground with his jiu-jitsu, but doesn’t tend to look for takedowns. “I feel with some adjustments, I will climb back up and make my case for a second belt again”. McGregor will probably welcome that approach from Diaz, as he believes his precision and speed will eventually KO anyone.
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Their hunger to fight allowed the UFC to create a blockbuster pay-per-view card on Saturday night headlined by two of its biggest stars taking unnecessary risks. “Obviously this is a really big challenge for me to take, and a lot of people think it was even silly”. He fought very well.
