Relive Conor McGregor’s thrilling win over Nate Diaz at UFC 202

CONOR McGregor finally gets his shot at UFC history at UFC 205 in New York City on November 12.

But before booking his shot at undisputed UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez McGregor had some unfinished business to attend to at UFC 202.

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After his sensational submission defeat to Nate Diaz at UFC 196 earlier in the year, McGregor had demanded a rematch under the same conditions, with the pair meeting for a second time in a welterweight contest.

And the determined Dubliner produced arguably the best performance of his career to turn the tables on Diaz and claim a majority decision victory after one of the UFC’s all-time great main event bouts.

McGregor started the bout in superb form, dropping Diaz in the opening round, then repeating the trick TWICE more in the opening minute of the second as he dominated the early exchanges.

But the durable Diaz came storming back at the end of the second, then took the third round as the atmosphere in the T-Mobile Arena reached fever pitch.

And after McGregor looked to have shaded the fourth, Diaz was left chasing a finish in the final round and, despite taking the Dubliner down to the mat in the closing seconds, the American was unable to secure the fight-winning submission he needed.

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When the scorecards were announced, they declared McGregor the winner by majority decision, with scores of 48-47, 47-47, 48-47 giving the Irishman the win in the second meeting between the pair.

And when interviewed by Joe Rogan after the fight, McGregor immediately called for the rematch, but insisting that it be made on his terms, at the 155lb lightweight class.

“Surprise, surprise motherf*****s!” he declared, mimicking Diaz’s opening statement after the first fight.

“The king is back! If you want this trilogy, it’s on MY terms.

“I came up to 170, now you’ll come back to 155 and we’ll finish what we’ve started.”

Diaz agreed with the idea, saying: “I want number three, I gave him number two, so let’s do it.”

But any plans for a rubber match between the two will have to take a back seat, as McGregor returns to world championship action at UFC 205 when he challenges Alvarez for the lightweight title.

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If he’s successful, he’ll hold both the UFC featherweight and lightweight world championships, and become the first athlete to hold two UFC belts simultaneously.

While McGregor’s sights remain set on Alvarez and a place in the UFC history books, you can bet Diaz will be waiting in the wings, ready to issue a challenge to McGregor if the Dubliner’s title tilt proves successful at Madison Square Garden.