CONOR MCGREGOR VS NATE DIAZ 2 UFC 202
Relive one of the most anticipated rematches in UFC history. Between the UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz at UFC 202. McGregor now faces off against the current lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. In the main event of the historic UFC 205 card at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In the typical McGregor pre-fight build-up, McGregor offered up all the reasons the first fight went the way it did. But this time around, there would be a different outcome. However, Nate Diaz who took their last fight at short notice came in confident he would be able to pull off an even more emphatic win in their second meeting.
In this fight, we got to see McGregor come back from his original defeat at 170 lbs. McGregor was offered the opportunity to take the rematch at 145 lbs, lightweight. But decided to once again face Diaz in his weight class. We get to see how the Irishman changed his gameplan this time around. Not going for the knockout punches he constantly searched for in their first outing.
Diaz vs McGregor Round One
Diaz seemed for all the world to enter with the very same gameplan. Which was to box and use his bigger frame to tie McGregor up against the cage. In the opening moments, we did see the marketed difference for Conor and the move away from the punches to leg kicks. Seeing the featherweight champion looking to take away the lead leg of his opponent.
As he continued to work the kicks, Conor then stunned Nate with an overhand right that sent him to the canvas. But unwilling to follow him to the ground, McGregor motioned for Diaz back to get back to his feet. And as the round progressed, we could see that the kicks of McGregor were beginning to take their toll.
Round two
Early in the second round and we can visibly see the leg kicks are having a negative impact on Nate’s leg. As he tries to check, Conor lands a big left hand that once again sends him to the ground. Unwilling to follow him down, McGregor once again tells Nate to get up. Before unceremoniously landing another left hand that once again puts Diaz on his back.
Nate appears now to be bleeding a lot from his face as McGregor’s punches and kicks land consistently. But unwilling to simply sit back, Nate begins to push forward and put Conor on the back foot. Forcing him to fight going backwards as opposed to being on the offence. And nearing the end of the round, it looks like Nate’s new tactic seems to be paying off. As Conor looks significantly more tired, very much like he did in their first fight.
The Third Round
Then moving into the third, we once again see Conor McGregor begin to show signs of fatigue. And with low air reserves in their first fight and a Nate Diaz who comes on strong in later rounds. It was not long before we saw the man from Stockton overwhelm and submit McGregor by rear-naked choke.
This time around it would be very different as McGregor decided on pacing himself and not going for the big one-punch knockout. But Diaz is in this to win and kept coming with constant pressure, in much the same way as his brother Nick. Nate moves in and swarms a McGregor who for all the world now looks to be fading.
Round Four
With both fighters coming out looking fatigued and Nate now having blood streaming down his face. It seems as though he is now having difficulties seeing properly. Conor begins to look re-energized and is landing some hard body shots. Nate gets McGregor to the cage and clinches up while landing some body shots of his own. But with both men now bloodied, its a tit for tat back and forth shot for shot battle. Where Conor seems to once again be getting his second wind.
The Final Round
Going into the fifth and final round and Nate’s corner tells him he needs to win the round. And Nate takes this on board as he pushes Conor backwards, but not without first taking some punishing kicks to his lead leg. Now bloodied up, Nate begins to walk Conor down. But his tactic means that he takes more punishment to an already badly beaten face.
Clinching up against the cage, Nate is now pouring on the pressure. But both men are visibly drained and it’s now a battle of wills. As Conor McGregor reverses, then gets Diaz to the ground all be it for just a moment. The fight is almost done as the pair grapple in a gruelling clinch game, with both landing some sharp inside shots. And with just ten seconds on the clock, Nate secures a takedown before the final buzzer sounds.
See how this all played out as the pair once again met at UFC 202. Sealing the pairs fate in the annals of MMA history with yet another war inside the UFC octagon.