MMA Fighting reports that a UFC 196 rematch is in the works for 200 as Conor McGregor-Nate Diaz II could be the main event for the big event this July.
According to the report, the fight will be a non-title welterweight bout for July 9. Diaz submitted McGregor in the second round earlier this month.
Despite Diaz being a late replacement for Rafael dos Anjos, the UFC drew an estimated 1.5M PPV buys in addition to astronomical ratings on FS1 for UFC programming. It also did well with its Embedded episode and the press conferences on its YouTube channel. Also, on the day of the event, there were 5 million searches for UFC 196.
McGregor made a reported $1 million in salary reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Diaz pocketed $500,000 per the NAC.
It appears that the card is starting to take shape as Travis Browne-Cain Velasquez is also close to being a done deal for UFC 200.
Payout Perspective:
Obviously the better choice for McGregor would have been for him to defend his Featherweight title against Jose Aldo or Frankie Edgar. In turn, Diaz would get a fight against RDA for the title. Furthermore, what about the fight can we conclude that McGregor has a chance to win?
The bottom line is actually the bottom line. Irish fans will clamor for McGregor to get this win and the formula worked so why not go back to it as the main event. If this main event is finalized, it would say a lot about what the company thinks about titles and the drawing power of McGregor.
tops E says
Hahahaha desperate
tops E says
Why not give diaz a full camp and give mcgregor 12 days notice…that would be a rematch hahahaha
d says
Good strategy. If he loses, he’s still 145 lb champ.
fight fan says
If he loses he will have 2 losses lol
jf says
@ D How can that be a good strategy? If he wins, he wins nothing. If he loses, his image is further tarnished. Meanwhile, the featherweight division is STILL held up because this clown gets whatever he wants.
EVERY MMA form is lighting up today with overwhelming disgust at this rematch. UFC 200 is turning into a dud while UFC 198 is jammed packed into perhaps the best card of the last 10 years. Go figure.
d says
JF, because the rematch with Diaz will again be at a higher weight class and will be a massive fight revenue wise. I actually disagree, I think he has more to gain, than to lose. If he wins, he can chalk that first fight up to it being his first fight moving up in weight and wasn’t used to it, etc. Then on top of it, he has taken that loss back by beating Diaz. Think about it, if he were to go down to 145 and lose to Edgar(which everyone is thinking will likely be the outcome), he’s done at 145 and arguably as a huge draw. But if he loses again at a higher weight, he’s still champ at 145 and they can continue to argue he is a 145lb fighter, and shouldn’t have moved up. He’d still be a huge draw for at least 1 more fight. From a business perspective, they are stretching this out to guarantee two more big ppvs.
The only other alternative that may be better would be to have him rematch Aldo(which would be a favorable matchup), but I don’t think there is as much interest for that fight than Edgar or Diaz.
You are talking about what the hardcore fans are thinking and everyone knows they are not responsible for those big ppvs. The casuals are and they would be interested in that fight seeing how they loved the last one. Everyone who talked about that fight afterwards were talking about how entertaining it was.
I do agree with you when it comes down to who he should fight for the integrity of the sport, but that is not how promoters operate and this business works. I would like to see Edgar fight him, because he is the guy who deserves to be the 145lb champ- he should have quite some time. He is the best fighter in that weight class, but he never has been a big draw.
tops E says
I think the ufc needs capital, money as soon as possible…they are sacrificing mc gregors career for immediate ppv buys….milk him dry…since the hype job got exposed they figure cash on him now….hahaha..really should investigate the cfo former flash employee and ipo station casinos relation or the loan due
tops E says
Diaz with full camp with sparring? Jab and hooks at will hahaha…
tops E says
I hope diaz makes dw and fertita beg hahahaha….edgar should go on media and protest
tops E says
http://m.sherdog.com/news/news/Report-Nate-DiazConor-McGregor-Rematch-Targeted-for-UFC-200-Headliner-102169. A lot of viewers in the comment section are all noticing the last 2 years of the ufc or more than a year…that the ufc has become diff….
d says
Hahahaha. Topps on the warpath. Responding to himself again. Hahahaha.
Fight Fan says
Tops it has gone from being about legit fights to just being a wwe style of promotions and hype.
Fight Fan says
Their top fighters have lost after running their mouths non stop and they have painted themselves into a corner with nobody else being built up.
Wil says
This reminds me of a poker game….”all in” basically. White is playing high stakes poker with this one. He is gambling. He is betting on big irish turn out, which will probably be there, and if McGregor manages to pull out a win, he is in very good positioning. However, here is a big risk to this one, two losses in a row effectively kills any McGregor appeal to the casual American fan who orders the ppvs in record numbers….and since Diaz had a 10 day notice on the last one, this doesnt bode well for McGregor. I see Diaz stopping him again, especially if Diaz manages to get him to the ground again, which will certainly happen.
White better hope that Cormier doesnt pull off a career best win against Jones……
tops E says
Hahaha..ur ryt fight fan dw is turning it into wwe…looking for big fights for his wrestlemania hahahaha…forget about rankings,other deserving fighters etc….
The question is why is dw rushing (alll short term solutions) for ppv buys? There’s announcing cm punk,still hasnt fought,hyped fvorites who all lost,now this past few days zoolander hahaha…
tops E says
Is it loan due? Flash unhappy- looking for roi? Will they lose the lawsuit?stations ipo? HahHahaha
d says
@Wil, Not that he’s ignoring it, but White isn’t primarily focused on the gate, his main focus is on ppv.
Your argument that he loses 2 in a row will kill his appeal to casuals for ppvs is actually less likely against Diaz as it would against Edgar. Think about it- if he loses against Diaz, they could keep arguing that isn’t his normal weight class, but if he loses to Edgar, not only does he lose at his regular weight, he loses the title. As long as he has that title, he can still have another big fight. Their strategy is actually very smart from a business perspective. The UFC knows Edgar is a tougher matchup than Diaz. I can see him beating Diaz if he fights him smart and uses a more technical approach, but I don’t see him beating Edgar in any way shape or form. Also, where are you getting this theory that Diaz will certainly get the fight to the ground? Diaz doesn’t like to fight like that. He likes to brawl. That’s what he’ll do. The only reason that fight ended in submission on the ground was because he rocked McGregor standing.
Why would White be worried about Jones losing? You guys really don’t get it, it does not take long to replace ppv stars in the UFC. Who even knew who McGregor was 2 years ago? Now he’s doing million plus buy ppvs.
Fight Fan says
Casual fans don’t care about the technicalities of weight divisions D, simply put they only remember the losses and forking over their hard earned money.
tops E says
Fans still feel being duped by dw hype machine with once ever ronda and celtic warrior mcgregor…now they are confused with all decisions the ufc is doing disregarding rankings,immediate rematch for some no immediate rematch for others…no consistency,lack of professionalism..moves away from being a mainstream sport but is more like a private club sport hahahaha…dw world
d says
“Casual fans don’t care about the technicalities of weight divisions D, simply put they only remember the losses and forking over their hard earned money.”
And they don’t care about anything other than star power, which McGregor has more than anyone in combat sports right now. Also, no one who watched that fight was upset where their hard earned money went. People don’t complain about big mma fights usually, they do with big boxing fights, because they are almost always snoozers.
Fight Fan says
Really cause I’m pretty sure nobody likes a hug fest in ufc? And if mcgregor is the biggest draw how come he still hasn’t topped a mayweather fight from 9 years ago?
The Greatest says
He should lose 5 times in a row to Diaz. According to “D” the more he loses the more popular he gets.
d says
“Really cause I’m pretty sure nobody likes a hug fest in ufc? And if mcgregor is the biggest draw how come he still hasn’t topped a mayweather fight from 9 years ago?”
And we don’t see hug fests typically in big fights in the ufc, we do see them in boxing routinely- that and track meets.
You should also investigate what the present tense means.
d says
“He should lose 5 times in a row to Diaz. According to “D” the more he loses the more popular he gets.”
Hahaha. Self destruct mode after realizing McGregor’s numbers will go up for his next fight.
Boxing will at least be doubled up this year in ppv buys.
d says
Also- go check out what Liddell did ppv wise after being ko’d consistently and losing 4 out of his last 5, he still did a 500k plus ppv in his fight against Franklin which was more buys than his previous 2.
Dr Jekyl and Mr Hype says
The UFC is facing a dilemma.
Mc is their main money maker, but he’s also their most expensive fighter. So if they get rid of him, they lose their main cashcow. If they keep him, they’ll have to constantly increase his paycheck.
PPV-wise, Ronda and McGregor are the ONLY relevant fighters at the moment. So the UFC is probably desperately looking for new cashcows (ahem, Jones). Only problem is, no one really wants to fight in the UFC anymore so they’re stuck with Mc.
As for PPVs, the UFC hasn’t broken its own record for years now. Enough said.
fight fan says
Well put Jekyl, hope dana has been practicing his card counting
d says
Yes, truly a dilemma of what records to set next. Last year was the biggest year ever for mma and the ufc and this year will likely be bigger.
“PPV-wise, Ronda and McGregor are the ONLY relevant fighters at the moment. ”
Jones’ last ppv did 800k buys, how that stands as irrelevant is mind boggling.
“As for PPVs, the UFC hasn’t broken its own record for years now. Enough said.”
False. The UFC set a record for ppv revenue in 2016. This is a fact. Enough said.
d says
“Well put Jekyl, hope dana has been practicing his card counting”
Delusions of grandeur.
The Greatest says
And Mannys last ppv was 4.6M
It also doesnt matter if he wasn’t the A side because Floyds highest previously was 2.5M, meaning Manny was good for 2M, meaning hes the biggest combat star in the world unless Floyd returns.
d says
McGregor 1, Rousey 2, Jones 3!!!!
MMA on fire….boxing in the gutter!!!
The Greatest says
All of them lost there last fight except for the coke muel.
UFC 198 9 out of 10 main carders are 33 years or older.
7/10 are 35 or older.
Ha
d says
The UFC may triple boxing this year in ppv buys/revenue. They will have the top 3 ppvs also this year most likely. PBC going under, Mayweather/Pac retiring. Canelo going to lose if he fights the only GGG which would be his only big ppv available. No ppv stars in boxing. Boxing fans…self destructing.
Fight Fan says
Funny you say that D cause everyone thought after de la Hoya there was nobody either
Fight Fan says
Pbc goes under the fighters go back to showtime, big deal.
d says
Only something you don’t realize is that Mayweather/Pac went on very long term runs-Mayweather never lost. What is the likelihood where you have someone who can sell a fight like Floyd that doesn’t lose as long as he did? Not to mention the other obvious point- mma is blowing up and they have stolen the market share away. People would rather watch guys fight than watch snooze fests which is what ppv boxing is.
Also, PBC goes under…..network tv boxing is over. That is a big deal.
The Greatest says
PBC actually has alot of good fights this month.
Broner-Theophane, Anthony Joshua-Charles Martin, Spence-Algieri, Russell Jr-Hyland, Ortiz-Berto II.
UFC has two worthless UFC Fight Nights, and Jones-Cormier II.
Pacquiao-Bradley III on the same night as the Anthony Joshua-Charles Martin fight.
Strong month for boxing
d says
“PBC actually has alot of good fights this month.”
That doesn’t dismiss the fact that they are going to go under soon.
“UFC has two worthless UFC Fight Nights”
That will outdraw PBC on cable.
“Jones-Cormier II”
Which will do probably around 800k ppv buys.
“Pacquiao-Bradley III”
Box office poision.
“Anthony Joshua-Charles Martin fight”
Which no one cares about in the US.
“Strong month for boxing”
Another weak month for boxing.
The Greatest says
Anthony Joshua will be a big star. 15-0 15kos.
Spence is a future star as well.
No way you can say the UFC is putting on better fights this month
d says
Hahaha. Big stars in boxing don’t sell ppvs. Hahaha.
Boxing has never in its history put on better fights because it isn’t as entertaining of a sport.
fight fan says
d what makes it more entertaining? last i checked both sports have their ups and downs.
Dr Jekyl and Mr Hype says
800K PPV buys is what the average boxer sells. So I fail to see how 800k means anything. I can’t wait for Jones to become the next McGregor (i.e. demand more and more money from the UFC) which will force White to get rid of him like he got rid of Mc and RR (i.e. let him fight someone he has no chance against).
As far as I’m concerned, I hope Jones milks the UFC dry like the UFC milked MMA and turned it into a joke.
It’s going to be a great year for MMA, but a terrible one for the UFC.
And I didn’t even bring up the class action lawsuit. Can’t wait to see the UFC implode. Bellator and Rizin are the new big boys on the block now.
d says
“d what makes it more entertaining? last i checked both sports have their ups and downs.”
More explosive, more ways to win, smaller gloves, etc.
d says
“800K PPV buys is what the average boxer sells. ”
This is false for so many reasons.
Golovkin vs Lemieux did 150k(and I think that was probably a bit generous)
Mayweather vs Berto did 550k
Pac vs Algieri did 350k
Canelo vs Lara did 300k
Cotto vs Martinez did 315k
Bradley vs Marquez did 375k
Canelo vs Angulo did 300k
Pac vs Rios did 475k
Those were 8 out of the last 13 boxing ppvs where 8 did 550k or less, and 6 did 375k or less.
Jones is actually arguably a bigger draw than anyone in boxing right now.
“I can’t wait for Jones to become the next McGregor (i.e. demand more and more money from the UFC) which will force White to get rid of him like he got rid of Mc and RR (i.e. let him fight someone he has no chance against).”
This makes no sense. Prior to the Holm-Rousey fight, literally no one gave Holm a chance. No one thought Holm was going to win, not to mention White loves Rousey. He was hardly throwing her to the wolves. Also, as for McGregor, I’m sure they’d rather deal with someone asking for more money who is doing 1m+ buy ppvs than have guys doing low buy rates. It is a good problem to have. They don’t want McGregor to lose.