Conor McGregor’s toughest fight at UFC196 may just be with
his own ego.
Fresh from a 13 second victory over Jose Aldo in December,
which saw him claim the UFC Featherweight title, the McGregor ego would be
rather swelled right now.
There’s no question he’s the man that UFC fans come to see.
Whilst two of his previous three pay-per-views have seen last
minute replacements called upon, the events have still managed to do a solid
buy rate on McGregor’s appeal alone.
At UFC196 he was scheduled for a shot at the Lightweight
Title held by Rafael Dos Anjos, and if victorious the Irishman would have become
the first man in the history of the organisation to reign in two divisions
consecutively.
But like Jose Aldo, Dos Anjos pulled out just days from the
fight, citing a foot injury.
This meant the UFC had to hastily arrange a replacement, and
eventually we found out Nate Diaz would be that man.
Diaz, currently ranked #5 in the Lightweight division
certainly gets people talking.
He may not do it as charming, as eloquent or TV friendly as
Conor McGregor, but he knows how to create buzz all the same.
Diaz was Conor McGregor, before there was a Conor McGregor.
He was brash, outspoken, a rule breaker, but he hasn't always put the pieces together inside the Octagon.
Diaz is a guy McGregor says was getting paid just $20,000 ‘show
money before his date at UFC196.
Talk is he’ll earn a cool $1 million just for showing up on
Sunday.
For Diaz to take a fight of this magnitude, with only days to prepare, there had to be some
conditions attached, and they weren’t all financial.
Weight was an important factor as well.
Given the short notice, it’s understandable that Diaz would
not be ‘on weight'.
The UFC was happy for Diaz to shift to a contracted weight
of 160 pounds, after the fighter claimed he couldn’t make the Lightweight limit
of 155 given the short prep.
McGregor swiftly removed those excuses from the Diaz camp,
saying he’d fight him at 170 pounds, the Welterweight limit.
There goes that McGregor ego again.
The Irishman weighed in at 145 pounds (65.8kg) against Jose
Aldo, yet will move up two weight divisions for Diaz, where the American could weigh
as much as 77kg, and perhaps even bigger come fight night.
Diaz is known for his takedown ability, strong wrestling
skills and is one of the best Jiu-Jitsu experts in the organisation – areas
where people still have question marks around McGregor.
The added weight should assist Diaz, as an increased weight aids a ground expert, rather than a fleet footed striker like McGregor.
The Irishman has destroyed fighters with his stand up alone
and relying on that skill set should get the job done on Sunday against Diaz.
The smart move would be to take the fight into the later rounds;
given its unlikely Diaz has the required conditioning to go the distance.
But that isn’t what McGregor is known for.
He wants to make a statement and he wants to do it quickly.
The Featherweight champion is already talking about perhaps
staying at Welterweight and setting up a title shot at UFC200 in July against
Robbie Lawler.
All this despite never before having fought at the weight and his only tune up being a blown up Lightweight with a limited camp.
Did I mention the sizeable ego?
To be fair, McGregor has backed up everything he’s said he
was going to do so far, but if you take your eye of the prize for just a second
in this game, grand plans can come unstuck.
Just ask Ronda Rousey.
Conor McGregor should be too good for Nate Diaz at UFC 196
on Sunday.
But some fighters are that good, that only they can beat
themselves.
McGregor must keep his ego in check, or it could bite, when
he least expects it.
ADAM SANTAROSSA
