In the UFC, Conor McGregor had never faced an opponent of Nate Diaz's size before.
The American had a three-inch height advantage and a two-inch reach advantage over the Irishman.
Going into the fight, analysts suggested this edge would be negated by McGregor's ability to manipulate space in the octagon.
It turned out not to be so.
During the post-fight press conference McGregor spoke of Diaz's more efficient use of energy. He felt much of his own dissipated with punches and kicks which connected with Diaz's gloves rather than his body.
I feel I was simply inefficient with my energy. Usually, when I fight a man in the division in which I am champion, they crumble under those shots. Nate took them very well. The weight allowed him to take those shots well. I think with a little bit of adjustment and a recognition that with the bigger man you must be a bit more efficient with your striking; you must not put everything into the shots. I was simply inefficient with my energy. I made some errors.
Hats off to Nate, he fought very well. He stayed in there, a lot of people have crumbled under the shots. His range was a factor. My left hand was falling short sometimes. The wheel kicks, I threw them and missed and once or twice maybe hit a glove. I think they did more to my energy than they did to his energy. It was simply a battle of energy in there and he got the better of that.
Another deciding factor was Diaz's ability to take a punch. Strangely, it seems this was an element under-estimated by McGregor and his team.
I enjoyed the fact that a person could take the shots and keep coming, He kept his composure. He went into almost auto-pilot mode with the shots. His face was busted up and I went into panic mode. There was just a shift of energy and he capitalised on it. I think with a recognition that with the heavier man it will take more than one, more than two, more than three to put the heavier man away. I think that if I go in with that mindset at a heavier weight, I will do fine again.
He can take a hell of a shot. Him and Nick have that style, they can take it and remain in there, remain in your face. In the second round, I was hitting glove and that was kind of draining me. He was just simply more efficient with his energy; stayed in my face and capitalised on it.
I make no excuses. It is what it is. I came up short. I took a chance and it didn't pay off. I'll be back.
Picture credit: Mark J. Rebilas / SPORTSFILE
