McGregor put on a masterclass of mixing kicks with his trademark punches in the first two rounds until Diaz threatened a comeback, which forced the UFC featherweight champion to show ruggedness that had never previously been drawn from him. McGregor won by majority decision. McGregor could also get a shot at the lightweight title, and fight current champion Eddie Alvarez. I want the trilogy, but it’s on my terms.
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“Surprise, surprise … the king is back”, McGregor said after the decision was read, spinning Diaz’s statement, “I’m not surprised”, after his second-round submission triumph five months earlier.
“I came up to 170, faced the bigger man and overcame my adversity. I knew what I had to do this time around and I did it”.
The Irishman took down Diaz twice more in the second round, bloodying his nose and appearing to have total control of the fight.
McGregor masterfully backed from Diaz’s punches when he wanted and then surprisingly rushed forward to catch the unsuspecting Californian with other strikes. McGregor dropped Diaz in the opening round and in the third.
“All I know is that it’s 1-1”, McGregor said.
Watch as Diaz and McGregor both wait to find out who was going to get the nod on the judges scorecards in the above video released by the UFC just minutes after their thrilling five-round battle in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night. Diaz was able to secure a takedown in the final seconds and finished the fight in top position, but it wasn’t enough in the judges’ eyes. “I’m still happy to come out here with a win”.
“I want number three”, Diaz added.
McGregor exacted revenge for a loss at UFC 196.
Before hobbling away on a broken foot McGregor left the door open for a trilogy fight between the pair.
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Diaz’s endurance was the difference in the first fight. While Dana White rebuked the idea of immediately booking another rematch between McGregor and Diaz, one thinks he will probably consider when looking at the PPVnumbers tomorrow morning.
