It’s on!
After the news that Rafael Dos Anjos was ruled out of their title fight with a broken foot, speculation mounted about who Conor McGregor would be facing at UFC 196 – that is if The Notorious was even going to take a fight on.
The names of Donald Cerrone, Urijah Faber, Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo all circulated but we now know who McGregor will be squaring off against.
Dana White was a guest on ESPN SportsCentre last night and he confirmed that Nate Diaz will step into the octagon on March 5th for a non-title bout that’s not all.
McGregor will also be moving up two weight classes (instead of just one) to face-off against Diaz at welterweight, because his opponent would be unlikely to make the lighter weight in the given 11-day time period.
. @thenotoriousmma vs Nate Diaz Saturday March 5th on PPV!!!! pic.twitter.com/76e6JGBeCS
— danawhite (@danawhite) February 24, 2016
Dana White explained on SportsCenter how Diaz ended up with the fight.
“We called Jose Aldo; Jose Aldo turned the fight down,” said White.
“We called Frankie Edgar; Frankie Edgar turned the fight down. Those are two guys everybody was talking about.
“A lot of guys wanted this fight, but we ended up with Nate Diaz.
“We felt this was the fight to make and the fight the fans wanted to see.”
Diaz’s record is a not so great 18-10, with three losses in his last five fights, but he has already started the war of words with The Notorious.
He's going to have to get on his knees and beg…
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) February 23, 2016
McGregor hasn’t been shy about smack-talking Diaz in the past, he said about him: “I heard Nate Diaz couldn’t even afford the flight over to Las Vegas for the ceremony. Stop holding bitterness deep in your bum soul. Stuck on $20,000 to show and $20,000 to fight. I wipe my ass with that money. I tip your wage, Nate, yeah.”.
We can’t wait until next Saturday.
Here. We. Go. 👊 💥#UFC196 pic.twitter.com/CKhB74aUW8
— UFC (@ufc) February 24, 2016
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