UFC 202: Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz Rematch Was a Mistake

I’m writing this column hot off the heels off the heated press conference this week ahead of UFC 202. After Conor McGregor decided to arrive late, Nate Diaz decided to bolt earlier. Insults were hurled, followed by bottles of water and energy drinks. An agitated Dana White then quickly ended the press conference. You can check out the debacle below. Obviously, this display is more than likely going to increase interest for the fight. Both fighters will likely be receiving fines or punishments from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Ultimately, this situation just reinforces my view that allowing this rematch to happen was a mistake.

I’m still of the opinion that McGregor vs. Diaz shouldn’t have happened the first time around. It was a last-minute replacement bout and at welterweight. McGregor being the undisputed champion going up a weight class, after having some tough weight cuts at featherweight, to fight Rafael dos Anjos at lightweight was more feasible. If anything, after Dos Anjos got injured, the UFC should’ve thought more about postponing the fight from UFC 196. Instead, McGregor was booked to face Diaz. Believe it or not, I was one of the few people who predicted Nate Diaz would win that fight. I can understand doing that fight as a last-minute replacement the first time, doing it again, for the second time and at welterweight no less, is mind-boggling.

Conor McGregor is the champion of a whole division at featherweight, and he should be defending that title. Instead, the UFC created a pointless interim title really just to serve McGregor’s ego. McGregor gets to stay UFC champion and keep a title he really has no intention of defending. Now, maybe he does, but I have serious doubts he will ever actually fight at featherweight and defend that title ever again. The fact is, this isn’t a title fight. McGregor is fighting two weight classes above his own weight class.

Now maybe McGregor is a true genius and knows things I don’t. But the first fight with McGregor and Diaz was only contested at welterweight because Diaz practically demanded it and was not even getting two weeks notice. McGregor agreed to have the fight at 170 pounds. McGregor, who probably is better suited for lightweight anyway, why would he want to have his rematch at welterweight? This is what he wanted and asked for apparently. But continuing to let McGregor fight well above his weight class when he has a title he should be defending is insane.

I can understand why McGregor wants the rematch. Diaz hurt McGregor’s pride and bruised his ego. Now McGregor believes he needs to get something back that Diaz took for him. However, it definitely seems that some of McGregor’s veneer was broken by Diaz. He might have lost something that he’s never going to get back. McGregor is without question one of the best fighters and personalities this sport has ever seen. Look at how he effectively trolled the WWE roster and John Cena and had all of the WWE and pro wrestling fandom eating out of his hand. The man has a gift. To those who would deride his fighting abilities or skills, the man knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds. Jose Aldo hadn’t lost a fight in 10 years at that point. He never lost a title fight in his entire career until he fought McGregor, that includes fights against the likes of Frankie Edgar, Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes, and Kenny Florian. McGregor is a good fighter. However, I think McGregor has simply met his match in Diaz. I don’t think any of his bluster or changes in his training camp are going to change that. Such a thing is not isolated to McGregor. It’s part of the nature of the sport.

I’m just generally disappointed that so much time and energy has to be wasted in a pointless rematch. Because if McGregor loses here, then what next? Will McGregor really lick his wounds and move back down to featherweight? I just don’t see that happening. Featherweight has become a debilitating cut for him. After having two fights and camps where he wasn’t basically trying to cut down to 145 pounds, can his body really take that punishment again? His coach didn’t seem keen on him cutting down to 145 again after the Aldo fight.

It just seems pulling the trigger on a non-title McGregor/Diaz match has opened up a pandora’s box that can no longer be closed. And now it’s creating a lot of headaches for the UFC and it’s log-jammed the entire featherweight division. Yeah. UFC 196 did about 1.5 million PPV buys. I’m sure after this latest press conference kerfuffle, buyrates are certain to get another spike. However, I’m trying to think for UFC’s long-term buyrates and business interests. Whenever McGregor fights it’s a big fight and almost guaranteed big money. It’s time to stop letting McGregor mess around and have him defend his title or relinquish it at last because Max Holloway has more than earned his title shot at this point.

Jeffrey Harris is 411mania’s resident Jack of All Trades and has covered MMA for the site since 2008. You can shoot him an e-mail at [email protected] or hit him up on Facebook. You can also check out the latest edition of the podcast he co-hosts alongside Robert Winfree, The 411 Ground & Pound Radio Show, below.