Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz set for UFC 196
Reigning UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor is set to face off against a new opponent in the form of Nate Diaz after previous challenger Rafael dos Anjos was compelled to withdraw due to a broken foot. According to UFC President Dana White, the bout is set to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 5, 2016.
Diaz was announced as the man who will face McGregor after he won the Conor McGregor sweepstakes. White was the person who made the announcement while appearing as a guest on ESPN SportsCentre and stated that Diaz would step up on about 10 days notice to battle the Irishman in a 170-pound clash.
Diaz will go into the fight fresh from beating Michael Johnson at UFC on FOX 17 in Dec. 2015, which also happened to be his first bout in over a year. No sooner had he achieved victory, Diaz wasted no time in launching a rant against McGregor for stealing the limelight away from him.
Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar were offered the opportunity to be McGregor’s opponent at UFC 196, but had to decline due to both being unfit. While the bout itself would be a spectacle, the build up to it would be even better, as two of the most vocal mixed martial artists wouldn’t spare each other with their witty barbs.