Miesha Tate UPSETS Holly Holm In UFC 196 To Become New UFC CHAMPION! NO FOOTAGE. #SUBSCRIBE http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/3/5/11164526/ufc-196-results-mcgregor-vs-diaz McGregor has become the most popular fighter in UFC with his string of knockout victories, and his fight with Diaz should make for one of the best-selling pay-per-views in UFC history. The two fighters have been trading verbal barbs ever since Diaz replaced the injured Rafael dos Anjos last week, and their feud almost turned physical two days before their scheduled fight. McGregor and Diaz had to be separated at a press conference on Thursday after the featherweight champ knocked away Diaz’s hand during their faceoff. McGregor, the Ultimate Fighting Championship's 145-pound champion, agreed on short notice to fight replacement opponent Nate Diaz at the 170-pound welterweight limit after 155-pound champion Rafael dos Anjos withdrew last week because of a foot injury. McGregor (19-2) weighed in at 168 pounds, with former lightweight title challenger Diaz at 169, before Saturday night's UFC 196 main event at MGM Grand. Since knocking out Jose Aldo in 13 Seconds the world has been buzzing about McGregor. "Weight should never be an issue," Ireland's McGregor said after stepping off the scale. "Champions should be able to go up and down and fight any challenge that comes before them. So I'm looking forward to going in there [Saturday] night fresh and put on a show for the fans, because I always step up for the fans." In the co-main event, women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm will make her first title defense against repeat contender Miesha Tate. Holm weighed 134 1/2 pounds to Tate's 135 — right on the limit. Holm (10-0) is defending the belt she took in November in a huge upset by ending Ronda Rousey's unbeaten reign with a second-round knockout by head kick in Australia. Second-ranked contender Tate (17-5), with four consecutive victories since her late-2013 loss to Rousey, presents an experienced, well-rounded foe for Holm, a former boxing world champion. "A whole new training camp, whole new nerves, a whole new fight, whole new work in progress," Holm said. "November's fight was back in November. I've got to be ready for [Saturday], so I'm ready." Holm is a minus-300 favorite over Tate at MGM Resorts' Race and Sports Book. McGregor's eagerness to fight at the weight he typically trains at is a bold stroke by a 27-year-old looking to further boost his reputation as someone who will fight anybody anywhere. In December, he ended the 10-year unbeaten run of Brazil's Jose Aldo to claim the featherweight belt in a 13-second knockout. This Saturday's UFC 196 isn't just about Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz and Holly Holm vs Miesha Tate. Here's a look at other great fights on card, including Amanda Nunes-Valentina Shevchenko, Brandon Thatch-Siyar Bahadurzada and Erick Silva-Nordine Taleb.

• published: 06 Mar 2016
• views: 320