Three reasons why Nate Diaz will beat Conor McGregor at UFC 196
While everyone is talking about how good Conor McGregor is and has been in his UFC career, Nate Diaz poses a legitimate threat to the featherweight champion.
By
Matthew Coca
•
1 min read
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Look back to December 2015 and you will see that Nate Diaz has been ready for this fight. Diaz knew it was only a matter a time before the UFC would come calling when it needed him the most. Featherweight champion Conor McGregor has taken the fighting world by storm, not only because of the style of his fighting, but because he can handle the microphone better than anyone. Before McGregor though, the Diaz brothers owned the trash talking world. Nate Diaz has never backed down from a challenge and he won't start now.
Here is why Nate Diaz can shock the world and topple Conor McGregor.
He has the physical advantage. This fight was agreed upon at 170 pounds. That means McGregor will be jumping up two weight classes. What makes him such a force at 145 is his combination of size and strength with an incredible reach for that division. Diaz has the advantage here. He stands three inches taller at six feet and his reach is two inches longer. There is no telling how McGregor’s strength will translate with this jump, but Diaz knows he has the size to control the fight.
He has to keep the pressure. Nate Diaz has been in 10 fights in the UFC that have ended in decision. Conor McGregor has only been in one. What that tells us is Diaz is built for long fights if they go that far. He can keep constant pressure on McGregor because he has the cardio to do so. In Diaz’s last fight, a decision win over Michael Johnson, he landed 153 strikes, which is nine less strikes than McGregor has landed in his entire UFC CAREER!
Takedown specialist. There has only been one time inside the Octagon that Conor McGregor has ever looked helpless and that was when Chad Mendes was able to put him on his back. For as world class as McGregor’s standup game is, he will have no chance trying to defend Diaz’s Jiu-Jitsu. Diaz is a black belt in the art and has 11 submission wins in 29 career fights. If Diaz can get McGregor, to the ground he's taking this fight.
