In the main event rematch of Saturday’s UFC 202, featherweight champion Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz had a fight many have called epic. McGregor won the fight by majority decision. But, more people are talking about the contest itself as it was a back-and-forth battle throughout.
McGregor controlled the first round and the majority of the second. He knocked Diaz down on a couple occasions but the UFC veteran came back near the end of the second. For that part of the second and the entire third round, Diaz was putting the pressure on the Irishman and had him tired and almost out on his feet. McGregor found his second wind in the fourth round and seemed like he regained control of the fight. In the fifth and final round, both fighters put it all on the line and used every last fiber they had, going toe-to-toe until the final horn sounded.
Many have called McGregor-Diaz II, the fight of the year. Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd stated on his radio show and podcast, “The Herd”, that it compares to the first fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1971, which was deemed, “The Fight of the Century”.
“I saw something on Saturday night, in a sport which many of you will never embrace,” Cowherd said in the recent episode of his podcast “The Herd.” “But to me, it is the new standard for ritual drama, McGregor-Diaz. It is our Ali-Frazier.” “Where during the fight and immediately afterwards, peers, other sports stars were in awe, like Ali-Frazier.”
Diaz and McGregor have stated they want a trilogy fight. McGregor said it may be a little bit before they meet, but they will face off again and it will be at lightweight. Diaz said he won’t fight again until the trilogy showdown is made.
