McGregor was seemingly in control of the first round and a half, yet Diaz managed to stun him with an electric series of punches that led to a defeating rear-naked choke – and nobody could believe it.
Stunned! Looked too easy until he was clipped, can’t believe Diaz of all people stopped McGregor #UFC196
— Terry Haggis (@TJHaggis) March 6, 2016
In shock that Conor McGregor got beat but I knew Nate Diaz was a warrior and Conor not blocking was so dumb.. Lost him the fight #UFC196
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusR39) March 6, 2016
Just when you think you have MMA figured out this beautiful sport gives you a night like tonight. Unbelievable scenes in the arena. #UFC196
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) March 6, 2016
And fans hadn’t forgotten about McGregor’s pay check – the 27-year-old set a new UFC record with his $1 million disclosed purse for the fight, which he left with his tail between his legs after comparing his opponent to a gazelle about to be eaten by a lion.
Imagine getting $1.000.000 just for showing up and only having enough gas in the tank to last 5 minutes.@TheNotoriousMMA #UFC196 #lol
— Fabregasm (@CFCjunkie) March 6, 2016
When you act like a lion but deep down inside your really just a gazelle! #UFC196 pic.twitter.com/RT5vnrEobm
— Trecca17 (@trecca17) March 6, 2016
Moral of the story: always bet on the gazelle… As opposed to the well dressed yet obnoxiously humorous Irishman. #gazelle #ufc196
— Dwight Kinley (@wakeandpray) March 6, 2016
And here is McGregor’s reaction immediately after the fight. Humble in victory or defeat, indeed.
Humble in victory, humble in defeat #UFC196 https://t.co/XKGQ7aE0BV
— UFC (@ufc) March 6, 2016
Diaz wasn’t the only underdog to emerge victorious from the explosive Las Vegas night. Earlier, Miesha Tate managed to lock Holly Holms into a choke, rendering the champ seemingly unconscious with 90 seconds left in the fifth round.
Holms, who knocked Ronda Rousey out with a head kick in November, picked Tate apart for the first three rounds yet faltered after Tate’s desperate takedown, which saw Tate take home the women’s bantamweight title.
#UFC196 was a perfect example of what makes UFC so great. Expect the unexpected. Unbelievable that Mcgregor and Holm lost
— Vikram Ojha (@vik1690) March 6, 2016
Miesha Tate is a true champion Went through adversity and still pushed forward and put Holly to sleep Absolutely incredible. #AndNew #UFC196
— Chris Nguyen (@ChrisNguyenBJJ) March 6, 2016
Wow – first UFC I’ve watched in years but well with it. Incredible wins for Meisha Tate and Nate Diaz! Great night #UFC196
— John Ngo (@johnngo) March 6, 2016
