It started like this!
It ended like this...
The UFC202 Main Event was a bout between two elite fighters who absolutely despised each other. Nate Diaz (pictured on the right above/left below) was set to fight the reigning UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor (Pictured on the left above/right below) for the 2nd time in a much anticipated rematch. Diaz beat McGregor, much to the surprise to UFC & MMA fans, in their 1st bout at UFC196 in which McGregor was submitted by a rear naked choke. The loss was McGregor's 1st defeat in the UFC.
Luckily for McGregor, it was a Catchweight bout at 170lbs. so he didn't lose his Featherweight (145lb.) Title. The rematch at UFC202 was set for 170lbs. as well leaving the Featherweight Title out of the picture.
Luckily for McGregor, it was a Catchweight bout at 170lbs. so he didn't lose his Featherweight (145lb.) Title. The rematch at UFC202 was set for 170lbs. as well leaving the Featherweight Title out of the picture.
The lead-up to the fight was entertaining all by itself. Both Diaz & McGregor are trash talking machines so, needless to say, the words were flying for months. Then at the pre-fight press conference, the two fighters sent water bottles flying at each other as well. McGregor insisted that Nate Diaz got lucky & "won the lotto" in their 1st fight so he was looking to avenge his loss in a big bad way. But nobody could have predicted the fight that would come.
Nate Diaz & Conor McGregor spent 5 rounds (25 minutes) in a bloody, knockdown filled, adrenaline fueled fight that brought out the best in both fighters. Strikes were thrown by each fighter on multiple occasions that would have ended any other fight. But both fighters had too much heart to quit or accept defeat unless they had been declared clinically dead. By the end of the fight, disdain turned into a mutual respect for one another.
In the end, everyone who saw the fight knew one thing: these two fighters were destined to fight each other. They were made for each other much like Ali & Frazier. By the end of the Main Event, the two fighters knew it, the whole world knew it, and the sport of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) gained a few thousand more fans. A lot of people who grew up with boxing were on the fence about MMA until they saw this fight. Now ESPN analysts & hardcore boxing fans are starting to pay attention because this fight that played out like the 1st "Rocky" movie.
When all was said & done, McGregor fell over from exhaustion & Diaz came over to give him help up. Hand extended, Diaz picked up his opponent who was breathing heavily on the mat & gave the man who made his face look like shredded steak a handshake with a hug. That's called RESPECT!
When all was said & done, McGregor fell over from exhaustion & Diaz came over to give him help up. Hand extended, Diaz picked up his opponent who was breathing heavily on the mat & gave the man who made his face look like shredded steak a handshake with a hug. That's called RESPECT!
Notice that I never told you who won the fight?! It's because it doesn't matter. (For those that REALLY care, Conor McGregor won by unanimous decision with 3 judges scoring the fight 48-47, 48-47, & 47-47. A lot of people still dispute the decision with some saying Diaz should have won the fight. Most said it should have been a draw. But, as I said before, much like "Rocky" it didn't really matter who won.) What does matter is this:
Two guys started out hating each other intensely, wanted to kill each other. But, at the end of all the drama, all the fighting, all the threats, ended up respecting each other by doing what they do best. A lesson can be learned here.
Now, unless you are a professional fighter, I don't suggest/promote fighting or violence to solve your problems. However, I do think that if these two could find respect for one another, anyone can. But you got to do what they did by stepping up bravely & exhausting yourself to work toward a resolve....if you really want to.
But, hey, that's just my 2cents....
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