When Diaz told Wells that he would be well compensated for the fight, McGregor added, “He can thank me for that one”.
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Does Diaz owe McGregor for Saturday’s payday?
First and foremost is the weight class. Featherweight McGregor vs. lightweight Diaz at the welterweight limit of 170 pounds means neither fighter has gone through the draining weight cut/rehydration process this week.
However, lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos was forced to withdraw from the fight after suffering a foot injury, forcing McGregor for a non-title welterweight bout with Diaz, who agreed on such short notice.
McGregor is, of course, going to net much more than $1 million for the fight.
The co-main event for UFC 196 will see UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm make her first defense of the title which she shockingly won by knocking out Ronda Rousey at UFC 193.
Holm tipped the scales at 134.5 pounds, while Tate came in at exactly 135 pounds to receive the green light for their title tilt. Holly Holm won’t be able to pick Tate apart like she did Rousey, and both women have the cardio to go five rounds. Holm’s opponent would be Miesha Tate, and compared to the other main event, the Holm-Tate fight features far less animosity but is still billed as a competitive one.
His opponent, Diaz, is guaranteed $500,000, also without a win bonus. “So it just leads me to think that she might have great striking, but maybe a glass chin, too”.
“I don’t think Nate Diaz is the biggest, strongest guy at 170”, Weidman said.
Ireland’s McGregor, who holds the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s featherweight belt, will move up 25 pounds to fight late substitute Diaz in a nontitle welterweight main event at MGM Grand.
When they posed following Thursday’s news conference, Diaz pointed a fist at McGregor’s face. I look for “Cupcake” to try to push Holm against the fence or take the fight to the ground.
The line for the fight now at SBG Global has McGregor as a -450 favorite with Diaz currently sitting at +360. In fact, the opposite was true- at 145 pounds, he was stronger than ever, proving that no matter what weight class he fought in, he was a risky fighter.
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White did say at this point they’ve had “no conversation” with McGregor about this particular scenario playing out, but a lot more will be known after his fight with Diaz is finished.
