Not many people gave Nate Diaz a chance to beat former featherweight champion Conor McGregor in the main event of UFC 196. Everyone expected that McGregor would roll over Diaz and he would go on to face welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.
Diaz had other plans in mind as he submitted McGregor by rear-naked choke at the 4:12 mark of the second round.
'No surprise, motherf—ers," Diaz told Joe Rogan like only Diaz can. "I want to thank Conor McGregor too for taking the fight on short notice."
The fight began with Diaz and McGregor exchanging kicks. Diaz and McGregor clinched against the cage to a stalemate. Diaz and McGregor exchanged left hands. McGregor tried for a left uppercut and Diaz slipped away. Diaz landed a right hand and McGregor kept missing the left hand. McGregor landed a kick and Diaz popped a right jab. Diaz landed a hard right and McGregor came back with a kick.
Diaz came back with two right hands. McGregor connected on an uppercut to the body and a kick to the body. McGregor landed a clean right hand and Diaz came back with a right of his own. McGregor threw a sloppy kick, Diaz took McGregor down and Diaz then pulled guard. Diaz was bleeding from the right eye as the round ended.
McGregor started the second by throwing a spinning back kick. Diaz and McGregor each traded left hands. McGregor landed a hard uppercut. Diaz got McGregor against the cage and landed a knee. McGregor kept landing the left hand but Diaz came back with his own left hand. Diaz rocked McGregor with a left hand and used numerous combinations and presses to get McGregor against the cage.
Diaz started ripping McGregor to the body and went to work. McGregor tried to come back with a left hand but Diaz kept pouring on combinations.
Out of desperation, McGregor went for a takedown, but Diaz stuffed it. Diaz rolled McGregor over, tried for a d'arce choke, but McGregor rolled over and got to his back. Diaz got McGregor's back, locked in a rear-naked choke and McGregor tapped out.
Many people thought McGregor would be a sore loser but he acted like the champion that he is even in defeat.
"I took a chance going up to 170," McGregor told Rogan. "I thought I took him in the first round. I was inefficent with my energy. These things happen. I learn, I grow. I'll face it like a man, like a champion."
Tate shocks the world to capture bantamweight title
For Miesha Tate to beat Holly Holm, she needed to get the fight to the ground to win the fight. Tate did just that and upset Holm to win via submission at the 3:30 mark of the fifth round to capture the UFC women's bantamweight title.
"I knew I had to finish the fight," Tate told Joe Rogan. "I had to be perfect in the fifth round."
The fight began with Holm and Tate attempting leg kicks. Tate was trying to gauge distance and Holm came with a straight left hand and a side kick. Holm tried a kick, Tate caught it and landed a short right hand. Holm came back with a hard push kick that sent Tate to the cage. Holm controlled the distance and came in leading with the jab and throwing a combination and a kick. Holm threw a high kick that Tate narrowly blocked.
The second started with Tate getting a takedown and into side control. Tate landed a couple elbows and right hands. Holm was trying to escape but Tate kept her on the mat. Tate kept battering Holm with elbows. Holm slipped out and gave up her back. Moments later, Holm tried to standup and Tate locked in a rear-naked choke but Holm was somehow able to survive the round.
The third round began with Holm and Tate looking tentative. Holm came a left and right combination. Tate tried for another takedown but Holm stuffed it. Holm tried for a head kick but was blocked by Tate. Holm started to find her range with her straight left and right hand and oblique kicks.
In the fourth round, Tate came out with a left hand and Holm came back with a push kick. Tate tried for a takedown, Holm reversed Tate and powered out. Holm kept coming in, throw a couple quick punches and get out. Tate tried for a takedown, Holm stuffed it, then landed a series of short right hands. Holm connected on a combination. Holm landed a front kick and a combination to end the round.
The final round started out with Holm landing an oblique kick and Tate came right back with a body kick. Holm landed punch-kick combination that sent Tate back. Tate tried for another takedown and Holm reversed it, backed away and landed a right elbow. Tate connected on a push back. Tate tried for another takedown but was stuffed by Holm. Tate tried for another takedown, got it and grabbed Holm's back. Holm tried to standup, Tate dragged her down. Tate locked in the choke, Holm stood up. Holm tried to flip Tate but Tate held position on her back and Holm instantly tapped out to win the title.
Latifi mixes it up to beat Villante
Ilir Latifi is a virtual unknown in the United States and was looking to make a statement in his U.S. debut. Latifi used a combination of his standup and wrestling to defeat Gian Villante by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) in light heavyweight action at UFC 196.
Villante begins the fight with two head kicks. Latifi pushed Villante against the cage, looking for a takedown but was unsucessfull. Latifi landed a right hand to rock Villante. Latifi immediately went for a takedown but was stuffed. After a couple punches to Villante, Latifi took the fight to the middle of the cage. Latifi kept trying to land the power shots and go for a takedown but Villante stuffed the takedowns. Villante landed a powerful leg kick as the round came to a halt.
The second round began with Villante coming back out and throwing leg kicks. Latifi landed a hard right hand. Villante landed another leg kick but this time, Latifi charged at Villante, got him behind him and suplexed Villante to the mat. Everytime Villante would throw a leg kick, Latifi would nearly catch it and try for a takedown. Latifi started to get into a rhythm, connecting on two spinning back kicks and short right hands and another takedown.
Latifi and Villante were tentative to begin the third round. Latifi kept looking for a takedown but Villante was able to stuff another attempt. Latifi and Villante looked exhausted as the final round went on. Latifi landed a hard left hand which Villante walked right through and landed another one as well. With 30 seconds left in the fight, Latifi scored another takedown, Villante reversed and got the fight back to the feet as the horn sounded.
Anderson beats Lawlor
Sometimes you need a victory over a tough veteran to get you on your way to a world title. This could be that path for Corey Anderson as he defeated Tom Lawlor by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in light heavyweight action at UFC 196.
Lawlor began the fight being the aggresor going for an overhand left that missed but connected on a uppercut and a right hand that had Anderson on the ropes for a moment. Anderson tried for a takedown but Lawlor was able to stuff it. Anderson was trying to setup his shots by using the jab and then a right hand and Lawlor his left hand. Lawlor continued to be the aggressor, controlling the octagon and making Anderson miss.
Anderson tried to begin the second with a body kick but Lawlor caught the leg and took Anderson down for a moment. Anderson and Lawlor each conencted with left hands. Anderson started to find his rhythm by peppering the left jab, right hand and leg kicks. Lawlor kept controlling the Octagon but was looking for his power left hand. With about 30 seconds left in the round, Lawlor landed a left and right hand and the round came to a close.
Anderson began the third round with a leg kick but Lawlor came back with a short right hand. Anderson landed a double leg takedown and right into side control. Anderson landed elbows and knees to Lawlor's body. Anderson would occassionally use a hammerfist and smother Lawlor. Referee John McCarthy finally stood them out. Anderson nor Lawlor did too much as the fight came to a close.
Nunes gets by Shevchenko
Amanda Nunes felt a win over Valentina Shevchenko would net her a shot at the winner of the UFC 196 co-main event between women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm and Miesha Tate. Nunes completed her end of the bargain defeating Shevchenko by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
For the first minute of the fight, Nunes and Shevchenko just circled around the Octagon throwing minimal shots. Nunes started to open up and mix body and leg kicks with Shevchenko countering with left hooks. Nunes kept trying to wing an overhand right hand with minmal effect. Shevchenko looked really tentative throughout the round. With about 45 seconds left in the first round, Nunes scored a takedown but wasn't able to do much once the fight got to the mat.
Nunes began the second coming out with a kick which forced Shevchenko to start opening up. Nunes scored another takedown and landed hard elbows and ground and pound punches while Shevchenko was trying to hold on. Shevchenko tried to get up but Nunes had none of it and powered the fight back to the canvas. Nunes had Shevchenko in side control and then transitioned to Shevchenko's back and locked in a rear-naked choke. To the credit of Shevchenko, she squeezed out of the hold and reveresed position as the round came to a close.
Shevchenko used the momentum from the end of the second round and came out an elbow that rocked Nunes for a moment. Shevchenko capitalized on the waryness of Nunes and took down the Brazilian. Nunes was able to get the fight back to the feet. Shevchenko was able to control the middle part of the final round with Nunes' hand on the mat and kept peppering Nunes with left hands to the face. Nunes kept trying for the homerun shot and Shevchenko wasn't going for broke to get the finish she needed as the fight came to a close.
UFC 196 Main Card
— Nate Diaz def. Conor McGregor via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:12 of Round 2.
— Miesha Tate def. Holly Holm via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:30 of Round 5 to win women's bantamweight championship.
— Ilir Latifi def. Gian Villante by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
— Corey Anderson def. Tom Lawlor by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
— Amanda Nunes def. Valentina Shevchenko by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28).
UFC 196 FS1 preliminary card
— Siyar Bahadurzada def. Brandon Thatch via submission (arm triangle) at 4:11 of Round 3.
— Nordine Taleb def. Erick Silva via KO at 1:34 of Round 2.
— Vitor Miranda def. Marcelo Guimaraes via TKO (head kick and punches) at 1:09 of Round 2.
— Darren Elkins def. Chas Skelly via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26 29-27).
UFC 196 Fight Pass early preliminary card
— Diego Sanchez def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
— Jason Saggo def. Justin Salas via TKO (punches) at 4:31 of Round 1.
— Teruto Ishihara def. Julian Erosa via knockout (punches) at 0:34 of Round 2.
Steven Muehlhausen is an MMA and boxing writer and contributor for Sporting News. You can find his podcast, The Fight Club Chicago, and subscribe on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher and You Tube. You can email him at [email protected] and can find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA.
