Dana White’s plans for UFC 196 were thrown a loop early Tuesday morning when Rafael Dos Anjos was forced to withdraw from his lightweight title fight against Conor McGregor due to a broken foot suffered late last week.
With two weeks to go before the event, the company was sent scrambling to find a replacement to step into the octagon. They have found their man in Nate Diaz.
BREAKING: UFC president Dana White announces Nate Diaz will face Conor McGregor at UFC 196. #LIVEonSC pic.twitter.com/rGL5Hj84In
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 24, 2016
Because of the move, the fight will actually take place at welterweight and will be a non-title fight. McGregor will have to move up to 170 pounds.
Diaz is currently No. 5 in the UFC lightweight rankings with a record of 18-10 with four knockouts and 11 submissions. He most recently defeated Michael Johnson by decision on December 19, 2015. That night, in a prescient moment, he had strong words for McGregor.
“He talks all that money fight s–t, he knows where it’s at. It’s right here. It’s not these guys fighting in the main event. The main event’s right here. These guys already got punked out at that press conference. He already beat them. That’s a win.
“If he wants to fight a real fight, he knows where’s it at, he knows where the money fight’s at. It’s right here.”
“Here” is now Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 5. They’ll share the main event with Holly Holm as she defends her UFC women’s bantamweight title for the first time versus Miesha Tate.
