Conor McGregor predicts second-round KO of Nate Diaz at UFC 202

Conor McGregor predicts second-round KO of Nate Diaz at UFC 202

Conor McGregor predicts second-round KO of Nate Diaz at UFC 202, future trilogy bout: “Mystic Mac” is back ahead of UFC 202. Conor McGregor has made his bold prediction for his rematch with Nate Diaz later this month, and in his mind, it’s not going to be a very long fight.

After losing to Diaz (19-10 MMA, 14-8 UFC) by second-round submission at UFC 196 in March, McGregor (19-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) made it his mission to secure a chance at revenge. Now that he has the chance, the featherweight champion, who will move up to welterweight once again for the fight, doesn’t intend to allow history to repeat itself.

The rematch headlines the pay-per-view main card Aug. 20 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

McGregor was asked for his official prediction on today’s UFC 202 media conference call, and while he expects to fight Diaz similarly to the first time they crossed paths, he said he’s going to be much more effective and patient. In his mind, that’s going to lead to a knockout victory within 10 minutes of cage time.

“This time, I’m still going to march forward, I’m still going to press him,” McGregor said. “I’m still going to bust him but there’s going to be a lot more in the tank and I’m going to be a lot more prepared for a man that can stay in there with me. If I was to make a prediction, and I will right now, I believe I will repay the favor and KO him inside the second round.”

McGregor said his performance in the first fight with Diaz, which came together on just 10 days’ notice after original UFC 196 opponent Rafael dos Anjos withdrew due to injury, was not a representation of his best work.

Although McGregor bloodied Diaz with powerful strikes in the first round, his “inefficient” output paired with a lack of conditioning and Diaz’s durability left him with less and less to offer as the contest progressed. Diaz canalized in the second round, landing big strikes that hurt the Irishman and forced him into a takedown. Diaz immediately put his jiu-jitsu prowess to work, getting in position to lock in a fight-ending rear-naked choke.

McGregor has received criticism for his performance, from those arguing he was weak on the ground to consciously making a decision to tap out as soon as the choke was in. He said he takes full responsibility for the outcome, but vows for a different result at UFC 202.

“(Expletive) people,” McGregor said. “I came in to fight and that’s it. People can say what the (expletive) they want. I didn’t feel his weight anywhere until that moment, until when he sprawled. When I went to turn away from mount and regain guard or something, he sprawled me out at the right time and that was it. It was done at that stage but (expletive) it. I’ll take that one on the chin and here we are. 15 days so I look forward to it.”

Source : http://mmajunkie.com/2016/08/conor-mcgregor-predicts-second-round-ko-of-nate-diaz-at-ufc-202-future-trilogy-bout

Conor McGregor predicts second-round KO of Nate Diaz at UFC 202