Nate Diaz V Conor McGregor II:

The main event of UFC 202 seen the much anticipated rematch of Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor after the pairs first meeting in March. McGregor has spent 18 weeks preparing specifically for Diaz with  the Stockton native also having 18 weeks for his battle against 'The Notorious'. Conor entered  first to his famous Foggy Dew and Hypnotize remix as the surrounding Ireland fans sounded their support for their hero. Diaz looked stern and composed during his walk as he looked for his second victory over McGregor. John McCartey got the bout underway as McGregor marched down Diaz and opened up with some punishing leg kicks to Diaz's right leg, as the Stockton native depended heavily on that leg to support him. Both men seemed cautious in the opening encounters with McGregor using his footwork and patience to make an opening. Conor then found a home for a good counter left as Diaz came forward. McGregor then faked with the right hand and caught Nate with an overhand left as the Irish faithful cheered. Then moments later, the Irish star landed a clean left cross to the chin of Diaz as the Stockton fighter fell to the mat, momentarily stunned. Conor had no interest in getting involved in a Ju-Jistu battle as McCarthy and Conor urged him back to his feet. Nate immediately ate another vicious leg kick as Conor looked cool and relaxed. Nate's leg seemed to be bothering him as he was reluctant to apply pressure to it. McGregor then buried a right hand deep into the body of Diaz and looked for another overhand left with 1;30 left on the clock in the first of five rounds. Diaz then produced the infamous 'Stockton Slap' as he looked to become more loose and fluid. The defining factor of this first round was the sheer power and volume of McGregor's leg kicks as Diaz checked little to none of them.The in the final 10 seconds, McGregor landed a good flurry of strikes as John McCarthy stepped in in a round to McGregor. The second round began with Nate's team urging him to check more kicks as their was severe welts and swelling to it. Nate then fell to the canvas for a second time as Conor tagged him with a huge left hand, but didn't follow up on the ground. Moments later, we witnessed a 3rd knockdown in favour of McGregor after a good combination sent Diaz to the mat, again no interest in Ju-Jitsu for Conor. Conor's accuracy was outstanding with 2;30 left in the second as Nate was finding it hard to close the distance without eating a leg kick. With 1;25 left in the round, Nate began closing Conor down with the latter breathing heavily from his mouth. Nate then rocked Conor with a fast combination and engaged a clinch against the cage and began striking from close range. Diaz swarmed with little time to go as Conor just hung on to reach the third. The third round seen Conor still breathing heavy from the flurry towards the seconds conclusion as Diaz applied the pressure. Diaz then found the clinch and had Conor backed up against the cage throwing close range strikes.Diaz failed with a leg trip as Conor defended well. Diaz chants rang around The T-Mobile arena as the American looked to be dominating the opening exchanges in the 3rd. On the break of the clinch, Conor caught Nate as he was backing away with a solid left hand. Conor missed with a spinning back kick to the body as Nate caught it and brought him to the cage to clinch and engage in some 'dirty boxing'. Dillion Danis instructed Conor to defend the double leg from Nate as the Irishman was right in his corner. Conor looked exhausted as he backed away and Nate began to point and laugh. Nate then found a good combination and clinched up again. From the clinch Diaz landed huge bombs as John McCarthy looked closely.Nate exacted unbelievable pressure in the final seconds and the round concluded. McGregor looked to have caught a second wind in the beginning of the fourth as he landed some good shots on Diaz's chin. Nate was wiping the blood found his cheek and eye as his scar tissue had opened. Nate was bleeding heavily and took the fight to the cage in the clinch but his double leg takedown was expertly defended by Conor. Conor landed a beautiful elbow in the clinch after some great pressure from Nate. On the break of the clinch, McGregor landed a tidy combination.Diaz tried and missed with his signature 'Stockton Slap' after good striking from Conor. The horn sounded for the end of the fourth. McGregor opened the fifth and final round with another brutal leg kick. Nate caught a flying knee attempt from Conor as he took it to the cage once more. Nate then missed with a hip toss as Conor broke from the clinch. Diaz's right eye was causing him all sorts of problems as he continued to wipe away the flowing blood. Conor again defended the double leg attempt from the clinch. Nate then gave Conor the middle finger as the latter walked off to catch his breath. Nate then again swarmed from the clinch after a good combination from Conor. Conor defended another double leg attempt from Nate with his takedown defence looking outstanding. Conor then tripped Nate and as he landed the takedown but Nate was straight back to his feet. Then with just 10 seconds left in the final round Nate landed a takedown as they went the distance. The moments before the decision were very tense with both men believing they had done enough to secure victory. Finally Bruce Buffer announced the victor as 'The Notorious' Conor McGregor claimed his redemption with a majority decision victory.

Ross