He helped McGregor up at the conclusion of the bout, and the two quickly hugged.
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McGregor had busted Diaz up significantly by the fourth round, with the American visibly having his vision obscured because of the blood. McGregor won by majority decision.
“It’s hard for me to get excited about that, especially after his last performance”, McGregor said. I could have either been here or a retired fighter coaching fighters.
Afterwards, McGregor (20-3) immediately challenged Diaz (20-11) to a third fight but this time, he wants him to come down in weight to face him in the lightweight division.
McGregor turned his back a number of times and Diaz taunted him as if to call the featherweight champion out for running from the fight. I came up to 170lbs, faced the bigger man, overcame adversity. Considering the theatrics and fighting style of Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor, we should’ve known they were going to be the exception. Diaz took the fight on short notice and the two agreed to meet at welterweight.
“I could have gone in there and pressed, but I was patient”, McGregor said. Diaz triumphed with a second round rear naked choke. The loss makes Diaz and McGregor 1-1 so far. McGregor, 28, dominated the first round, landing numerous leg kicks and flooring Diaz, 31, with a left. “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”. But Diaz came back into the fight with the Irishman visibly fatiguing as the match-up wore on, and with one flurry of punches put the Irishman back against the cage.
On the other hand, “The Notorious” was gunning for a revenge after being upset at UFC 196.
Diaz was in trademark form during his post-fight interview. “It was a decision, he didn’t go out and get it”.
MMAFighting.com was first to report the news that McGregor would be earning a guaranteed purse of $3 million for his second Octagon meeting with the Stockton Bad Boy. McGregor didn’t end up retiring, but the disturbance got him and Diaz dropped from the card.
Instead the anticipated rematch was set for UFC 202. Regroup boy, we’ll do it again. “My respect to the opponent”. “You have to respect Nate and the style that he brings”.
One that stood out the most was Anthony Johnson’s 12-second knockout victory over Glover Teixeira.
On Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena both fighters did heavy damage but neither could find the knockout blow over five bloody rounds. “I don’t really throw leg kicks, in my whole career I’ve thrown about three”, he said.
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Donald Cerrone (31-7) stopped Rick Story (19-9) in a battle of ranked welterweights.
