One of the lesser sighted features of a Conor McGregor fight – showing his back to his opponent and strolling away.
The Notorious is renowned for charging forward at his opponent in the opening stanza and planting a flag, or kick.
McGregor was the aggressor during his UFC 196 loss to Nate Diaz and opted to conserve his energy in case he needed to go five full rounds. Ultimately, it proved sound as McGregor took the rematch against Diaz by decision.
Having talked himself up his entire career as a toe-to-toe banger, Diaz was not happy with the Dubliner’s evasiveness. He commented:
“I was like ‘Where you going? Are you scared to engage?
“I felt like they should have taken points [off him] for that.”
Asked, in the post-fight media scrum, about Diaz’ claims he ‘went running’, McGregor replied:
“He’s a big boy, you know? A big volume puncher.
“I had to get out of there. Bring the beats down and settle myself. But who dropped who? I was on my feet the whole time.
“I wasn’t wobbled or nothing. He put those volume shots on me and fought his heart out. Fair play to him but who dropped who? The class was evident in the early rounds. His size and durability came through in the later rounds but I’m the better fighter. It’s as simple as that.”
Only one way to settle this argument…
A big interview with Eamon McGee features in the latest GAA Hour. Subscribe here on iTunes.
