Didn't think either guy looked like their best tonight, but they both made it a fucking dog fight. Neither guy was going to quit. Overall one of the best cards I've ever seen. I love that Diaz style, but man I get so tired of the excuses and the "I should have won" after every loss. That's the difference between someone like Nate and someone like Conor who just says "I underestimated how durable he was and burned myself out". He doesn't blame everything on injury or people trying to fuck him over.
Fine fight, had Conor winning, still perplexed that Nate didn't really get it to the ground. Even in the post fight press conference he said he really wasn't looking to take it to the ground, which, alright... A third fight will be nice, but please let them fight other people for a bit. I really need some time off from these two fighting each other. Conor should really beat Aldo again before jumping to 155. If anyone from this card should fight Alvarez it should be Cerrone. Rumble could knock down a house with his hands.
With all the smack talking he did during the fight, as well as his "what the fuck" at the decision announcement, i've decided I really don't like Diaz. You lost man, can't believe he thinks he should've won.
I thought Conor won 1, 2, and 4. Nate won 3. Round 5 was a toss up but with the late takedown you could say Nate won it. But it doesn't matter because Conor still wins 3-2. I know a lot of people are debating who won the second round but I think it was clearly Conor's. Nate had a late flurry in the last minute but he also got knocked down twice and was dominated the first 3-4 minutes of the round.
Nate had about 3 shining moments where he was actually in control. The rest, as calculated as it was, was Mcgregor's easily.
Yeah that second round is up for debate for a lot of people, but it's because Diaz gained momentum at the END. Conor was making him look helpless, and I remember feeling sorry for him in that round. Conor slightly gassed, and Diaz gained the edge at the end so that's what remains in people's minds. Otherwise, Conor was embarrassing him the whole time. Also, I guess I would now officially say I like Conor more than Nate. Just the reactions after the fight tells you how different their attitudes are. It drives me nuts that Diaz says that he'll never win a decision because he's "too real". No, dude. You lost because you lost.
I think Conor needs to be permanently at 155. I know he's the 145 champ and despite the flash KO of Aldo or whatever, he looked really drawn out and just poor overall at the weigh-ins the day before. I think that is just way too tough of a cut for him to continually do. I'd love to see him vacate that 145lb belt and then just cement himself at 155 and stop all the silly moving up and down in weight.
I don't really care where he goes as long as they don't do an immediate rubber match. As entertaining as it is, you're kind of screwing everyone else in a lot of ways by having the 145 lb champ fight a Lightweight contender at 170 in a trilogy series of somewhat pointless grudge matches. You have three contenders in Jose, Frankie and Max (who have all been deserving of a title shot) knocking each other out of contention by the time Conor gets back. I know they're trying to milk the McGregor/Diaz rivalry for all it's worth, but Conor is basically holding the Featherweights' belt and paycheck hostage. I still think they're gunning for him getting the 155 title shot whether it's before or after the Featherweight defense....which is still crazy considering the handful of contenders they have waiting there, too.
Well Dana White has talked in the past about wanting a bigger fight/stage in Ireland, and Croke Park is the only place they'd make that happen, and Conor would be the perfect star to make that happen
I'm really surprised Cowboy wants to drop down to 155. He has looked really strong at 170. And I was really looking forward to seeing Cowboy fighting the likes of Ruthless, Wonderboy, and Rory.
Best current fighters to have never held a UFC belt... GO 1. Cowboy Cerrone 2. Rumble Johnson 3. Carlos Condit (not counting Interim) 4. Allistair Overeem 5. Urijah Faber
I wish they'd give out more fight bonuses when its deserved. Lorenzo Larkin should've received something for his performance.
Man, I really want to see Rumble/Jones right now. If Jones does come back in 6 months, facing Rumble for a #1 contender match would be epic.