Conor McGregor
December 12, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Conor McGregor exits the octogon following his championship victory against Jose Aldo during UFC 194 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Reuters/Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Despite a late-scratch in the main event, UFC 196 would still probably be one of the most anticipated MMA fights of the year as Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz heat up their rivalry.

McGregor, the undisputed UFC featherweight champion, would have to wait for a few months before getting a chance at history in the world of MMA and will instead face Nate Diaz on Mar. 5 at the MGM Grand Arena.

The Irishman jumped from featherweight to lightweight for an opportunity for a historical feat by simultaneously holding two title belts in different divisions. However, lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos was forced to withdraw from the fight after suffering a foot injury, forcing McGregor for a non-title welterweight bout with Diaz, who agreed on such short notice.

McGregor and Diaz have been in war of words ever since the Ultimate Fighter 5 winner called out the former after winning UFC on Fox 17 in December against Michael Johnson. But the two have been heavily engaged in trading insults at each other despite such short period of build up for the fight.

The two fighters almost came to blows before security rushed to brush them off during the UFC 196 news conference on Friday. The customary staredown between McGregor and Diaz started to turn out as a brawl when the Irish champ swiped the latter’s hand away, with UFC president Dana White and securities immediately separating the two from each other.

“[Diaz was] afraid to look me dead in the eye,” McGregor told Fox Sports Live. “So he put a flame out in front of him and I quickly snatched it and broke his wrist."

McGregor, who is coming off a swift victory over Jose Aldo at UFC 194, has never fought at welterweight, but he is still viewed as the favourite against the long-time lightweight. Odds Shark has McGregor at -400 to win compared to Diaz at +325. The Irish fighter is also favoured to score a TKO (-265) against the 30-year-old on fight night.

Meanwhile, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm starts her quest to defend her belt against Miesha Tate. Holm, who stunned the MMA world after knocking Ronda Rousey out cold in Melbourne last year, insisted she wants to establish her own legacy in the Octagon and not just be known as a “one-hit wonder.”

On the other hand, Tate, who has worked hard to get a shot at the women’s bantamweight belt, has acknowledged Holm’s striking ability, which earned the champ undefeated streak in UFC. However, Tate believes Holm has a weakness she could exploit come fight night.

"I've watched some of her fights and I've seen her chin get tested, and I think it's a little bit suspect," Tate said, reports SB Nation’s MMA Fighting. “So it just leads me to think that she might have great striking, but maybe a glass chin, too.”

Tate comes in the bout as an underdog at +255 on oddsmakers, while Holm is tipped to win at -305.

Live streaming info

Watch UFC 196 Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz live on UFC’s official website.

Courtesy: YouTube/UFC - Ultimate Fighting Championship

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