It’s fight week, ladies and gentlemen. After months and months of build up to this moment, we are just a few days away from the highly-anticipated rematch between Nate Diaz and featherweight champion Conor McGregor.
The two men will do battle for the second time in their careers on Saturday, Aug. 20 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Diaz vs. McGregor 2 — like the original matchup — will take place in the welterweight division. The two previously faced off at UFC 196 in March, with Diaz pulling off the unlikely upset after surviving a heavy barrage of punches from the Irish star. McGregor got winded, while Diaz kept his pace and rocked the featherweight king with strikes. Ultimately, Diaz pulled off the fight-ending submission.
Fast forward a few months to UFC 200 — where the two men were initially scheduled for their rematch — and it was a retirement tweet that changed it all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl2ujypaBVE
McGregor informed the sports world that he was deciding to retire early.
In reality, he was unhappy with his UFC contract and the media demands. That led to McGregor refusing to attend a scheduled press event and being pulled from the card. After a few weeks of intense negotiations, all sides were able to come to an agreement to make the rematch for UFC 202.
The Bad Blood
Part of what makes UFC 202 so appealing is the bad blood and history between the main event participants. Diaz shocked the mixed martial arts world by submitting McGregor in their first meeting and the trash talk still hasn’t stopped.
In fact, Diaz has embraced the media for the first time in his career and his carefree attitude has led to a new level of stardom for someone who has always been more of a “die-hard fan favorite.”
Add in all of the media and the appropriately named “Bad Blood” feature, and they excitement and buzz surrounding the rematch makes for one of the biggest events of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjd7Yhk_zoc
Fight Card
We all know Diaz and McGregor will be going head-to-head, but who else will be appearing on this weekend’s pay-per-view? Here is the full fight card for the Aug. 20 event.
- Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz
- Anthony Johnson vs. Glover Teixeira
- Donald Cerrone vs. Rick Story
- Alberto Uda vs. Marvin Vettori
- Cody Garbrandt vs. Takeya Mizugaki
- Artem Lobov vs. Chris Avila
- Neil Magny vs. Lorenz Larkin
- Ning Guangyou vs. Marlon Vera
- Colby Covington vs. Max Griffin
- Cortney Casey vs. Randa Markos
- Tim Means vs. Sabah Homasi
- Mike Perry vs. Hyun Gyu Lim
Fight Week Activities
Leading up to the action, the UFC has planned a handful of events for the fans prior to Saturday’s throw down. Later today, the festivities kickoff with the UFC 202 Pre-Fight Press Conference. The presser will begin live Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 4 p.m. ET live from David Copperfield Theater at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The press conference will feature Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, Anthony Johnson and Glover Teixeira.
You can watch live here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ-1fkPEwtU
On Friday, just 24 hours prior to Diaz vs. McGregor 2, all fighters will have to step on the scale for the official weigh-ins. While the fighters officially weigh-in early in the day, the ceremony will be held Friday, Aug. 19 live from the Marquee Ballroom at MGM Grand in Las Vegas at 7 p.m. ET.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOVj1Zkj55M
Finally, on Saturday night, Diaz and McGregor go head-to-head for a second time.
Will Diaz be able to earn another impressive win or will McGregor be able to avenge the only loss of his UFC career? We will find out in a matter of days, but for now, share your thoughts and predictions in the comments section below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHXqpIQT1R0
Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
