UFC 196: 5 factors that will determine the outcome of Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz
McGregor and Diaz will face off in the main event of UFC 196. Image Courtesy UFC.com.MMA’s most transcendent male star takes on one of its most enigmatic figures at UFC 196’s main event, with Conor McGregor fighting Nate Diaz in a welterweight clash that could throw up plenty of fireworks.Ordinarily, the replacement of a super fight with a non-title bout would make for a sizeable buzzkill for UFC fans. But when the McGregor vs Rafael dos Anjos lightweight fight was canceled due to the Brazilian suffering a broken foot (or a bruise, depending on who you ask), the UFC moved quickly to bring in fan favorite Diaz.This has created a showdown between two of the UFC’s most charismatic figures and prolific trash-talkers. The pre-fight press conference was expectedly entertaining, with McGregor’s verbose, quick-witted barbs contrasting nicely with Diaz’s more visceral, street-wise jabs. But this is the UFC and not the WWE, so the true intrigue will lie in the actual fight itself.There’s no question that McGregor is the superior all-round fighter, and is in the midst of the kind of lengthy purple patch that the erratic Diaz has never enjoyed. But the Stockton, California man is an experienced head and a tricky opponent who will pose a different set of challenges to any of McGregor’s previous foes. This bout will see McGregor experiencing a reach disadvantage for the first time in his UFC career. He will also be up against a man with superior grappling skills and an arsenal of crippling submissions. You’d expect a combatant with his fight I.Q. to find a way to negotiate these obstacles, but it won’t be a walk in the park.In the past year, McGregor has crafted an aura of invincibility that makes it difficult to comprehend that he can lose a fight. Diaz will Look to shatter that aura in a fight that will be determined by five key factors.
#1 Physical conditioning
Having taken the bout at only two weeks notice, Diaz comes in without any kind of focused fight camp behind him. However, UFC president Dana White claimed that the 30-year-old was training for a triathlon before being called up to UFC 196, and is “in phenomenal shape”.
Like older brother Nick, Nate Diaz is known for his excellent cardio and ability to go the distance in fights. The more rounds he can negotiate, the more the odds will shift in his favor against an opponent who has only fought beyond two rounds once in his UFC career thus far.
Weight is another intriguing factor in a fight that features the UFC’s featherweight champion taking on a lightweight stalwart in a welterweight bout. This is McGregor’s debut outing at welterweight, while Diaz has fought at 170 pounds before. You might think that this gives Diaz a clear advantage, but it’s not quite that simple.
Despite making his name in the 145-pound featherweight division, McGregor is understood to have a natural “walking weight” closer to 170 pounds. This means he has had to endure substantial weight cuts to compete at featherweight.
By not having to cut much weight this time around, McGregor will be able to eat better and train harder in the days leading up to the fight. But will the resulting gains in power and energy come at the loss of some of the speed that is so central to his game?
For his part, McGregor seems unperturbed: “You’ve seen him on the salads, now see him on the steaks.”