UFC 200: Diaz vs. McGregor 2, Why or Why Not?

(Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

The highly anticipated UFC 200 fight card is less than four months away and word is just starting to build as to who will be featured on the monumental weekend cards in Las Vegas at the new Las Vegas Arena.

The most talked about addition being a rumored rematch of the UFC 196 main event Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor. MMA pros were puzzled once speculations grew late last week, as did fight fans all over (unless you are a McGregor fan, then you just started re-posting motivational quotes and making hype videos for your Irish boy).

Why should this not happen?

I’ll openly admit I’m Team Diaz. 209 Stockton All DAY. I’m happy as a Diaz Brother on 4/20 that Nate got the opportunity to make big bucks and get some spotlight after his years in the MMA scene. For him to get another big card like this in July, arguably set out to beat 196 as the biggest UFC card ever, is awesome. But for arguments sake, I can’t wrap my head around how out of ALL the possible main events they could have put together for these two, a rematch won.

I know, you’re all yelling at your screen telling me “duh cause McGregor is the money fight”. I get it, I’ve heard it all but why is this at welterweight? AGAIN. What is McGregor trying to prove at 170-pounds? When the original plan was for 155-pounds against champion Rafael Dos Anjos for the lightweight title, people were mind blown at what McGregor was trying to accomplish going up a weight class for another championship bout. Then when Dos Anjos pulled out due to injury, I completely understood how this ended up at 170 because Diaz was stepping up on 11 days-notice and compromises needed to be made for the main event to go on. Let’s also not forget McGregor didn’t even weigh in at the welterweight limit at the weigh ins (he weighed in at 168). So I ask again, what is McGregor, or the UFC, trying to prove at 170?

(And don’t even TRY to tell me this McGregor vs. Lawler rumor will come back if he wins, just, c’mon.)

Back to what I was saying. Diaz and McGregor are now given more than enough time to train properly for 155, which after his time at welterweight is now Diaz’s active weight class. McGregor, who was on the lightweight gold mission following his 13 second win over former Featherweight champion Jose Aldo, should be back on that journey to gaining a second world title. Making this rematch a title contention fight for the lightweight championship, the winner getting Dos Anjos, will give this fight more substance. More than just giving McGregor a second chance at Diaz.

Does the UFC not believe that McGregor could win? Is that too risky? It’s a given that if the first fight went in McGregor’s favor, Diaz wouldn’t have gotten a rematch like this. Exec’s would get heart emojis in their eyes and ask McGregor who he wants next, sending the hype train full steam ahead. It’s mind blowing that this rematch is taking president over giving Aldo a second chance, the man who was the undefeated and only featherweight champion in the UFC until this past December. But after all, Diaz is the first to break McGregor’s win streak since his unstoppable reputation began.

There’s also the logic of how disrespectful this is to the other reigning champions in the UFC. You know, the fighters who hold the gold in their respective weight classes? It’s customary that title defenses are the main fights for pay-per-view cards, the higher weight class getting the main event spot. The fact this has possibility of being the main event at such meaningful card to the UFC over an actual title fight is just disappointing. And it’s not a matter of it affecting the number of people buying the PPV cause you’re spending $59.99 if you watch one fight or all of them.

Ronda Rousey, who held the crown for a high draw before people even knew who McGregor was, never got a main event spot over a higher weight class. She was the co-main event to Weidman vs. Machida and Weidman vs. Silva 2 (okay, Weidman/Silva 2 rightfully so deserved that spot), but it was only when the Strawweight championship was on the line or she was the solo title bout on the card that she was a main event.

Why should this happen?

Um, the press conferences. The media tour. The interviews. The press conferences. And, oh yeah, the media tour.

Also, cause let’s be honest “I’m not surprised mother f******”.