Diaz and McGregor square off
Today, UFC executive Dave Sholler led a media event in LA to promote the new main event. At the end, McGregor and Diaz stood face to face for the first time.
Just yesterday UFC President Dana White announced on ESPN that Nate Diaz would be stepping in for the injured Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 196 versus Conor McGregor.
Today, UFC executive Dave Sholler led a media event in LA to promote the new main event. At the end, McGregor and Diaz stood face to face for the first time. It was intense:
News broke just yesterday that McGregor’s original opponent, lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos, had broken his foot. The UFC scrambled to find a new opponent for McGregor with the event only 10 days away. Several fighters offered their service, several turned the fight down, but at the end of the day TUF winner Nate Diaz got the fight.
The two will now fight at welterweight. McGregor was originally scheduled to fight at lightweight, but it will unlikely another lightweight, and Diaz obviously, could make that weight on short notice.
About Conor McGregor
Whether you appreciate his style or consider him loud and excessive, there’s no denying this about Conor McGregor: the UFC has seen nothing like him.
In the two years since he swooped into the UFC, McGregor has become a lightning rod for controversy. But he has backed up his braggadocio with skilled MMA and an ability to draw fans – most to cheer him, some hoping to see him cut down to size.
At UFC 189 in Las Vegas, he made good on a vow to knock out Chad Mendes, capturing the interim featherweight title and setting up a showdown with Jose Aldo, the UFC’s pound-for-pound king.
McGregor’s impressive rise in the UFC took place in a little over two years. It was almost impossible not to notice him after he knocked out Diego Brandao on UFC Fight Night Dublin in July 2014, then spectacularly announced, We’re not here to take part. We’re here to take over.
source: ufc.com
About Nate Diaz
Nathan Donald “Nate” Diaz (born April 16, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing for the UFC in the lightweight division. He is also the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 5. He is the younger brother of mixed martial artist and former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and WEC Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz. In addition to the UFC, Diaz has competed in the WEC, Strikeforce, and Pancrase in Japan. As of February 23rd, 2016, Diaz is #5 in official UFC lightweight rankings.
source: wikipedia.com