Conor McGregor earned redemption on Saturday evening after avenging his March defeat to Nate Diaz with a points victory in Las Vegas.
Against the bigger man, McGregor executed a perfect game-plan to retain his position at the top table of UFC.
What, then, were the keys to his victory?
The plan was clear: attack the legs. McGregor’s peppering of Diaz’s lead right leg left him limping out of the cage from damage to his shin while his rival was covered in welts. But the tactic was crucial as it kept the longer Diaz at range. The Californian stands heavy on his lead leg to utilise his boxing fundamentals and McGregor just chopped him down.
Diaz’s 12 submission wins have rarely been born from takedowns. He’s not known for his wrestling but from the third round onwards he looked to take the fight to the ground where his far superior Jiu-Jitsu skills would cause McGregor trouble. But the Irishman displayed near perfect takedown defence, finding the muscle to snuff four of Diaz’s five attempts.
It’s McGregor’s most ‘Notorious’ weapon and his left hand arguably proved the difference between these two warriors. He stunned his opponent on three occasions, dropping the durable Diaz in rounds one and two, edging the decision in his favour. Only once has Diaz been stopped in the UFC and he showed just why, coming back each time but the damage had been done.
In the third stanza, it seemed to have deserted McGregor but in the championship rounds he found a second wind. Cardio is ultimately cost him last time out but in the months since their March showdown, the Irishman has built himself a gas tank. He had the energy to pressure Diaz and land combinations late on in his first trip through the full five rounds.
In March, McGregor head hunted and unloaded in the first round. Diaz was cut and bloodied but crucially, was still standing. The featherweight champ didn’t seem to have a Plan B or the energy to execute one. At UFC 202, he was different. He exploded in bursts and didn’t dive in when he grounded Diaz. Patience really is a virtue.
