Last month, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor earned widespread praise for his composed and confident performance against five division world champion Floyd Mayweather - but MMA rival Nate Diaz is not buying it.
Commentators and fans on social media gave McGregor the first three, in some cases even the opening four, rounds as he dictated a steady pace against Mayweather — who started slow and launched very little offense against the UFC star.
As McGregor tired in his professional boxing debut, Mayweather eventually took charge and the Irishman was out on his feet when referee Robert Byrd called an end to the contest a minute and five seconds into the 10th round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The victory extended Mayweather’s flawless record to 50-0, but McGregor’s ability to challenge the five-division world champion was a prevailing theme in the immediate aftermath.
However, it transpired that two of the judges had the bout at 89-81 in Mayweather’s favor — giving McGregor victory in the first round only.
Though the marks are ultimately meaningless, the judges’ stingy assessment of the Irishman’s efforts may only serve to affirm fans’ favorable views, with the bombastic McGregor having enjoyed his standing as crowd favorite.
Diaz saw nothing different in McGregor when compared to the fighter's defeat in the UFC.
Last year, McGregor tired and punched himself out before Diaz rocked him and then submitted him in the second round of their first meeting. In the rematch, which also took place last year, McGregor won a five round majority decision but he also tired badly in the later rounds of the contest when Diaz began to take over with very hard combinations landing.
In the pre-fight promotion to the Mayweather fight, McGregor would often quote martial arts legend Bruce Lee and promised to bring the spirit of Bruce Lee to the ring.
Well, Diaz took to social media because he's sick of the praise being poured on McGregor for his performance against Mayweather.
"He punched himself out the same way he lost in the UFC. There was no learning goin on.... over promotion bullsh*t, get off the nuts. This the sh*t I'm talking about, Bruce Lee would've never lost like that," Diaz stated.
