McGregor makes a prediction for Diaz rematch

Trash talk in combat sports goes back a ways.

On the famed walls of the tomb at Beni Hassan in Egypt, one of the wrestling scenes is captioned woe to you Oh African enemy, I will make you take a helpless fall in the presence of Pharaoh.

That was over 4.400 years ago.

Still, in the modern era, most follow the lead of Muhammad Ali, who followed the lead of pro wrestler Gorgeous George. UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor has borrowed Ali’s penchant for calling the round he wins in.

Sometimes Ali gave himself some room.

He will be mine, in round nine, and I ain’t lyin’.
He must fall in eight, to prove that I am great.
He wanted to go to heaven, so I took him in seven.
If he’d be in a word of fix, I cut it to six.
If he keeps talkin’ jive, he will fall in five.
If he makes me sore, I’ll get him in round four, like before, with Archie moore, on the floor.
If that don’t do, we’ll get him in two.
If he runs, we can get him in one.
If he don’t wanna fight, he should keep his ugly self at home that night.

McGregor, dubbed Mystic Mac by some fans, has called several fights with accuracy. During a recent media conference call, he made a prediction for the rematch with Nate Diaz. Like Ali did on occasion, he gave himself a little room.

This time, I’m still going to march forward, I’m still going to press him, said McGregor, as transcribed by MMAjunkie. I’m still going to bust him but there’s going to be a lot more in the tank and I’m going to be a lot more prepared for a man that can stay in there with me. If I was to make a prediction, and I will right now, I believe I will repay the favor and KO him inside the second round.

McGregor’s last fight, he predicted a win over Diaz in the first. And in fact he rocked the entire 209 with a couple of shots in the first, but Nate bled some, and stood fast. In the second round McGregor was clearly fading and tried to take it to the ground, where he looked like a fish vs. a shark, and tapped out to a rear naked choke. Some fans compared that unfavorably to the co-main, in which defending champion Holly Holm too was put in a choke, and held out until she went out.

“F***ing people, said McGregor. I came in to fight and that’s it. People can say what the f*** they want. I didn’t feel his weight anywhere until that moment, until when he sprawled. When I went to turn away from mount and regain guard or something, he sprawled me out at the right time and that was it. It was done at that stage but f*** it. I’ll take that one on the chin and here we are. 15 days so I look forward to it.

Nate Diaz fights Conor McGregor at UFC 202 n August 20, 2016 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.