Issue 141

May 2016

It took less than two weeks for Nate Diaz to go from the 209 to the top of the MMA world by tapping Conor McGregor at UFC 196

Tuesday February 23rd

After Rafael dos Anjos pulls out of the UFC 196 main event against 145lb champ Conor McGregor, the UFC calls Diaz to step in on less than two weeks’ notice. The fight is set for the 170lb welterweight limit at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Wednesday February 24th

The UFC holds an short-notice press conference with Diaz and McGregor at the UFC Gym in Torrance, California. “I’ll probably buy a whole bunch of nice s**t,” Diaz tells a reporter who asks how he’ll spend his purse – the biggest of his career.

Monday February 29th

Diaz does some conditioning with world-class BJJ black belt Kron Gracie. He later makes time for some sparring with older brother Nick. “No one works as hard as me,” he tells UFC Embedded cameras.

Tuesday March 1st

It’s a day of media for UFC 196 fighters, and that means signing posters and doing interviews for the NorCal native. “It’s my 25th UFC fight so I’m used to this s**t. Sign all these posters, check in – it’s like a workout in itself,” says the 30-year-old.

Wednesday March 2nd

Nate puts on a show for fans at the open workouts. “I don’t give a f**k, I’m ready to rock,” he says after his session. Later, Diaz visits Syndicate MMA for some training, where he’sd by throwback fighter Charles ‘Krazy Horse’ Bennett.

Friday March 4th

It’s the day of the weigh-ins at the MGM Grand, with thousands of fans anticipating Diaz’s face-off with McGregor just one day from their highly-anticipated fight. Diaz comes in at 169lb, while McGregor weighs in a pound less at 168lb.

Saturday March 5th

The oddsmakers have Diaz as an underdog but he doesn’t get the memo and hands McGregor his first UFC defeat via submission in a ‘Fight of the Night’ main event. “I’m not surprised, motherf**kers,” Diaz adds post-fight.