10 Conor McGregor "What Ifs"

With the featherweight division conquered (in a way…), McGregor turned his attention to a second belt in the lightweight division, in the form of Rafael Dos Anjos.

Nate Diaz cut a scathing promo on McGregor following his victory over Michael Johnson only a week after McGregor’s featherweight title win. This promo lives in UFC folklore as the birth of one of the greatest rivalries in the sport that still continues to this day. Despite Diaz’s protests, the fight for the lightweight title was booked between Dos Anjos and McGregor for UFC 196. However, Dos Anjos withdrew from the fight due to a toe injury, and Nate Diaz stepped in to back up his words on only 13 days’ notice.

It was clear that the two fighters shared immense chemistry from the first meeting at a press conference and despite the insults and showboating, the respect they had for one another was certainly apparent.

It was a result that shocked the MMA world, as Nate Diaz submitted McGregor in the second round after being well beaten in the first round. McGregor’s fitness and stamina were rightly called into question, especially as he gained 25lbs for the fight with Diaz. The blueprint for beating the Irishman was seemingly out.

Diaz vs. McGregor 2 took place at UFC 202, with McGregor refusing to accept any other bout but a rematch with Diaz at 170lbs. McGregor had his revenge over Nate with a split decision victory after five hard-fought rounds.

Conor McGregor’s stock rose with the two Diaz fights, and without them, the story would be far less interesting, compelling and ultimately profitable from all parties. A third fight is seemingly out of the question with McGregor’s most recent retirement announcement, but as MMA fans know, very few fighters are ever truly retired.