Arrogant in the Cage but Humble in Defeat

    Reigning and defending UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor did something at UFC 196 that most professional fighters would never think of: he moved up not one, but two weight classes and did so with less than two weeks notice. McGregor holds his championship in the 145lb division, and was originally scheduled to move up to the 155lb  Lightweight division . McGregor had plans to fight Rafael Dos Anjos for his championship belt before Dos Anjos had to withdraw due to injury. With only days before UFC 196, UFC President Dana White worked feverishly to find a fighter willing to take on McGregor with only days to prepare. Conor's eagerness to fight anyone at anytime made this decision easier for White as he selected Nate Diaz to oppose McGregor.

    A war of words that has been waging for months would finally come to a head, as these two vicious verbal vigilantes were scheduled to meet on Saturday March 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. These two fighters are both well known for their crazy antics on the microphone with some of the best abilities to promote a fight. Because this match-up became official only days before the fight,  fans were seemingly shortchanged on what could have been a lengthy entertaining build up to fight night. The few brief interactions at press conferences and interviews had left the fans begging for more unfortunately due to time restraints. The PR train had only a few stops. Hopefully the fight would not disappoint the fans, leaving them wanting more in that aspect also.

    The stipulation arose that the weight for the fight would be an issue for Diaz to make what was originally scheduled to be at 155lbs. McGregor's pretentiousness led to him agreeing to fight at the weight in which Diaz would be comfortable: 170lbs. This could have been the beginning of the end for Conor McGregor as he did not even meet this weight, coming in at only 168lbs. This unheard of jump in weight classes in such a short period of time would most certainly have an effect on his fighting ability inside the octagon. Even if this insane jump in weight classes would push McGregor's physical faculties, seemingly nothing could hinder the swagger he brings to the mic.

    What has become a regularity surrounding Conor McGregor fights, his Mystic Mac persona revealed himself to make a prediction on the outcome of the fight. Mystic Mac predicted that the fight would end via knockout in the first round due to McGregor landing one of his capoeria kicks. Trying to make this prediction come to fruition was possibly the final nail in the coffin that led to McGregor's downfall to Diaz. Conor frequently attempted to land his signature capoeria kick only to swing and miss or have it blocked. This could have ultimately spent the last bit of reserve energy that McGregor had and he consequently gassed out in the second round.

    Even after round one in which Conor McGregor controlled the fight, dealing damage and landing punches at will; a bloody and battered Nate Diaz still stood. Narrowly withstanding everything that Conor could throw at him, Diaz began to go on the offensive in round two in which he landed 54 punches, more than in any previous McGregor fight total. A hard left hand landed and a stunned McGregor with a glazed look over his eyes, stumbled as he found himself in unfamiliar territory. As onlookers and paper-view subscribers watched an outcome only a few had predicted, McGregor desperately attempted to take Diaz down, which only played to Nate's strengths. Clearly superior on the ground, Diaz gained full mount and in a final act of desperation Conor rolled over which surrendered his neck for a rear naked choke submission, a tap out, and the victory for Nate Diaz.

       A broken man sat at the post fight press conference, humbled in defeat, Conor gave nothing but respect for Diaz as he said Nate was the better man that night. Social media was in an uproar taking shots at McGregor attempting to kick the man while he is down. Essentially pointing out that McGregor's mouth backed him into a corner that his fighting talent could not get him out of. Former Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo wrote on social media that "The Fairy Tale Was Over." Was it due to an ever growing ego that needed to be put into check, and arrogance that was running awry?           Conor McGregor could have easily stayed within his own weight class and most likely continued his course of dominance while being considered one of the best to ever step into the cage. What if McGregor would lose his Mystic Mac persona or at the least maintained a game-plan inside the cage not based on some fictional prediction? Arguments could be made that the flaws in Conor's game are not even inside the octagon but due to his ego, driven by arrogance that miss-manages his career and his fights. Only time will tell what the future holds for McGregor as he plans to return to the division where he found the competition easier to handle.