Nate Diaz’s response was short and sweet when Joe Rogan asked him about his stunning upset victory over Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 196. ”I’m not surprised, motherf–kers,” he spoke coolly into the microphone.
Diaz had just survived a brutal beating that lasted throughout the first round and the first two minutes of the second round. Nate’s face was covered in crimson and most of the sell-out crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, along with spectators around the world, suspected that the end was nigh for the pride of Stockton, California. But with a clean selection of punches in the middle of the second, Nate was able to turn the tables on the brash, infinitely confident Irishman, forcing the reigning UFC featherweight champion into defensive mode. Staggered and out of his element, McGregor was forced to shoot for a takedown, putting himself into the clutches of a world-class jiu-jitsu practitioner. Diaz quickly transitioned to back mount, sunk in a rear naked choke and forced McGregor to tap.
This marks the end of Conor McGregor’s brief, but memorable reign atop the tumultuous world of MMA. It may be hard to believe that the Irish fighter has only been on the UFC roster for less than 3 years and has held a championship belt in the organization for merely 8 months. However, the fighting world has been captivated by his fearsome power, his searing wit, and his absolute fearlessness. A previous article on MMANytt.se (here) discusses the significant risk that Conor took in accepting this fight with the very dangerous and battle-tested Diaz. But the consequences go far beyond the career of just one man. As a result of this shocking loss, the UFC, which has invested untold millions in McGregor (as it did in Ronda Rousey), will undergo yet another period of sea change.
