CONOR McGregor called Nate Diaz ‘a heavy bag with eyeballs’ and admitted he underestimated the teak-tough Californian when they met at UFC 196 earlier this year.
But the Dubliner also said he’s made the necessary adjustments to his game and expects to finish Diaz inside three rounds at UFC 202 on August 20.
Speaking on the UFC 202 media conference call, McGregor admitted he underestimated Diaz’s ability to take his punch power and that directly led to his downfall.
“I didn’t give enough credit to Nate’s durability and his experience,” he said.
“He’s a very experienced fighter. He’s had more UFC fights than I’ve had fights. Also his height and his range and his reactions, I gave no respect to that.
“I marched forward and in fairness, for the first round and a half he was a heavy bag with eyeballs. I was correct in that, but his durability held out, his experience held out for him.”
McGregor faced Diaz on short notice at 170lbs after preparing to face Rafael dos Anjos at 155lbs.
And in a break from the Irishman’s normal approach, he revealed he’s prepared specifically for Diaz second time round as he looks to avenge his only loss inside the UFC Octagon.
“This time I’ve been preparing for that,” he said.
“I’ve been preparing for a durable, experienced fighter, who has the reach, the height and the length, and that’s it. So I feel very confident that we will go in and get this win back and put this man away.”
“I just got into saying I was going to stop the guy in the first round,” McGregor explained.
“If I really look at it, I thought he has a solid chin, he’s durable, very experienced, he has the size and the weight on me. I think that was the wrong thing, to go in expecting the first round, and I did go out to KO him in the first round.
“I marched forward and backed him up and teed off on his head. I did what I said I would do, but respect to him, he stuck it out. He was durable, he was experienced, he weathered the storm.
“But this time, I’m still going to march forward, I’m still going to press him, I’m still going to bust him, there’s just going to be a lot more in my tank.
“I’m going to be a lot more prepared for a man that can stay in there with me. Even still, I struggle to give him past round three.”
And though some are questioning McGregor’s ability to defeat Diaz given the convincing nature of his defeat first time around, the Dubliner says he’s ready to prove his worth once again.
“I am an expert at adaptation and overcoming adversity,” he said.
“I’ve been doing it my whole life and I’ve faced many defeats in all forms – not just in MMA but in everything and I’ve always come back stronger.
“We win or we learn, that’s what my coach John says, and that’s what we do. I feel I’ve grown as a fighter, I’ve gained some valuable experience.
“Usually when I go in, I hit them, they go down. That’s it. My division, I kill them. Check my record.
“Four second knockout, three-point-five second knockout if you want to be accurate. I knocked Aldo out in 11 seconds if you want to be accurate. Sixteen-second knockouts on my record. When I hit them, they fall.
“So it was nice to go in there and face a man who, although he was close to crumbling, he stuck in there and showed his experience and durability.
“It was nice to experience that and now I have a chance to go back in and use what I’ve learned from that fight and go at it again.
“So I’m very, very excited for this fight. It’s going to be a hell of a fight. The last one was a hell of a fight. We went in there, we stood toe-to-toe.
“The fans are in for a treat, but make no mistake, my hand will be raised.”
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