McGregor Granted Diaz Rematch at UFC 200

Conor McGregor will get another chance to prove himself as a welterweight after being granted a rematch with Nate Diaz on the UFC 200 card in Las Vegas on July 9th.

American Diaz (19-10) handed McGregor his first loss in the Ultimate Fighting Championship earlier this month when he chocked the featherweight champion into submission at UFC 196.

UFC boss Dana White posted a picture on Twitter of the two men above the caption “200” upon announcing the headline bout late on Wednesday.

White later told ESPN SportsCenter he and UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta had encouraged McGregor (19-3) not to fight at 170 pounds, 25 more than the trash-talking 27-year-old’s usual featherweight limit.

“He was obsessed- obsessed with fighting Nate Diaz again,” White said.

“Obviously, Lorenzo and I tried to argue with him and said, ‘Let’s go back to 145 and defend your title. Or if you really want the Diaz fight that bad, do it at 155.’ He wants the fight at 170.

“Even his coach tried to get him to get off the rematch and off the 170-pound fight... but it’s what he wanted.”

McGregor had hurt Diaz early in their first bout in Las Vegas but could not capitalise and the bigger man landed some punishing blows himself before his jiu-jitsu talents won him the fight.

White said Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar would also square off on the UFC 200 card, with the winner then taking on McGregor for the featherweight belt regardless of the Irishman’s result against Diaz.

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Diaz and McGregor Trade Trash Talk

Nate Diaz has accused Conor McGregor of steroid abuse as the trash talk between the two fighters heats up ahead of their upcoming clash at UFC 196.

Diaz made the accusation about McGregor as well as the entire UFC roster at Wednesday night’s press conference ahead of the March 5th fight.

“Everybody’s on steroids,” Diaz said. “The whole UFC, everybody.”

“Your teammate Gil (Melendez) and Jake (Sheilds) were two caught on steroids,” McGregor responded.

“And you and dos Anjos,” Diaz continued.

In typical McGregor-style the Dublin fighter told reporters and fans that his rivals are in fear of him.

“Nate for me was the leading auction, there were many, many auctions. In reality, many people pretended like they wanted to fight until the fight actually presented itself,” he said.

“Frankie [EDGAR]never shut-up, and then when he was given a phone call and a date, he hasn’t been seen or heard of since.

“Jose [ALDO]was in camp apparently preparing, in case Dos Anjos pulled out. Then all of a sudden Dos Anjos pulls out with a bruised foot and Jose is not fit.

“Even Nate tried to exit the fight cleanly.

“It’s always happening…they always pull out, they always run. They always make it out like they want it, but really they don’t want it. I was expecting it.”

Dos Anjos is the sixth fighter to withdraw from fighting McGregor in his last 12 fights.

“It doesn’t matter what weight division or anything, or what belt is on the line because really I should create my own belt. I am in myself my own belt. I’m fighting for my own belt.”

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Dos Anjos Injury Ends McGregor Bout

Rafael dos Anjos has reportedly been forced to pull out of his Las Vegas bout with Conor McGregor due to a foot injury.

Featherweight champ McGregor was due to face top lightweight Dos Anjos in Vegas on 5 March in a bid to become the first UFC fighter to hold belts at two divisions simultaneously.

However, multiple sources claim Dos Anjos will not be fit for the hugely anticipated UFC 196 showdown.

Last July Jose Also withdrew from a title fight with the Dubliner at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with a rib injury, being replaced at the last minute by Chad Mendes. 

It remains to be seen whether the UFC will find an opponent for McGregor this late in the day, as the 27-year-old now faces the prospect of again fighting for an interim belt.

McGregor was vowing to become a two-weight UFC champion with victory, after securing the featherweight title in sensational fashion when he finally fought Aldo in December.

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McGregor Meets dos Anjos in March

UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor is set to challenge Rafael dos Anjos in a blockbuster showdown in Las Vegas in March – on the same night that Holly Holm makes her first title defense.

The UFC has not announced either title fight, and bout agreements have not yet been signed, but multiple sources say Holm and McGregor will headline the star-studded event in Vegas on March 5. McGregor will move up in weight to fight in the 155lb lightweight class, while bantamweight Holm will take on Miesha Tate.

Bleacher Report first reported the matchups Thursday. Sources have confirmed the bouts to ESPN. UFC 197 will take place at either the MGM Grand Garden Arena or the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

McGregor, UFC’s hottest property, is coming off a stunning 13-second knockout win over Jose Aldo on December 12, which set the record for the fastest finish in title-fight history. McGregor, from Dublin, is 7-0 in the UFC and will look to become just the third fighter ever to win UFC titles in multiple weight classes.

Holm upset Ronda Rousey for the 135lb female title at UFC 193 in November. Holm won the bout via knockout in the second round with a left head kick.

She is expected to fight Rousey again at some point, but Rousey, 28, has not yet announced when she will return to the Octagon. She did indicate to ESPN late last year she was interested in the rematch.

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Mayweather Outpoints Manny

Floyd Mayweather confirmed his status as the best fighter in boxing after a masterful points win over Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

The 38-year-old American dictated the fight with his superior ring skills to earn a unanimous verdict with scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112, extending his unbeaten record to 48 fights.

Heralded by weeks of hype, this battle between the sport's two biggest stars had been billed as the 'Fight of the Century', but Mayweather simply used the 12 rounds to supply a masterclass to the watching world.

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