Conor McGregor is getting an immediate rematch against Nate Diaz, and the outspoken fighters are set to headline the historic UFC 200 card on July 8. While McGregor was a big favorite for their first fight, the odds are much closer this time around. And this time around, we get a few months of Conor-Nate press conferences and pre-fight trash talk instead of a week.
Bet on UFC 200 odds at BookMaker.eu
PROJECTED ODDS
Nate Diaz -160
Conor McGregor +140
Please note, the odds at BookMaker are updated daily. The lines listed here may have changed since this article was posted.
ODDS REACTION
Nate Diaz should be the favorite, period. The Stockton native was on a houseboat partying it up when he got the call to face McGregor on 11 days notice. In no way was he close to optimal fight shape, and he was still able to take the Irishman in two rounds. McGregor had a full training camp, no weight cut and was completely healthy and was done by Round 2.
IT MAKES DOLLARS, BUT NOT MUCH SENSE
You have to feel bad for Frankie Edgar, Jose Aldo and the rest of the featherweight division. The UFC is acting in its own best interest by booking the biggest money fight possible for UFC 200, even if it means putting an entire division on hold. Edgar has been particularly vocal about being disrespected by the UFC, and this adds fuel to the fire. It might be time to considering stripping McGregor of the 145-pound strap and move on.
As far as a second go-round between McGregor and Diaz, it seems like the general reaction among fight fans is confusion. The first fight wasn’t particularly close, and McGregor had some serious problems adjusting against a larger fighter. He ate a ton of punches getting in range, and his one-shot KO power didn’t translate at 170 pounds.
What’s more, Diaz proved to be a terrible style matchup. His durability negated McGregor’s power, and he made the Irishman look like an amateur on the ground. When Diaz is the taller, rangier fighter and doesn’t have to worry about takedowns, he is nearly impossible to beat because of his relentless pace and endless cardio.
McGregor stated after the first fight that he was “inefficient with his movement” and that he was surprised that Nate didn’t get dropped by his left. But even if he makes adjustments, he’s still facing some major physical disadvantages in terms of reach and height, and especially in terms of cardio.
Frankly, I’m surprised that McGregor agreed to this fight. He won the first round, but Nate proved to be a much more savvy, skilled fighter. A second straight loss wouldn’t tank his stock, but it would drop significantly. You have to give him some credit for wanting to face a guy that thrashed him, but you also have to question how smart that is.
HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines at BookMaker Sportsbook and start wagering now. With our live betting options, you can also wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. UFC 200 takes place on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card will be televised on pay-per-view.
