UFC 196 Results: McGregor vs. Diaz

UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz took place on March 5, 2016, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nate Diaz accepted the main event on short notice and submitted featherweight champion Conor McGregor in the second round of a welterweight bout. In the co-main event, Miesha Tate rallied late to submit Holly Holm and win the UFC women’s bantamweight championship.

View the official UFC 196 event archive on UFC.com.

Diaz absorbs McGregor’s offense and turns the fight

McGregor had originally been scheduled to challenge lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, but dos Anjos withdrew with a foot injury. Diaz stepped in with limited preparation, and the fight was contested at 170 pounds.

McGregor landed the cleaner power shots in round one, but Diaz’s durability and volume began changing the fight in the second. A straight left hurt McGregor, Diaz increased the pressure, and McGregor shot for a takedown. Diaz took his back and finished a rear-naked choke at 4:12.

Tate takes Holm’s title in the final round

Holm’s movement and striking controlled long stretches, but Tate’s wrestling created the fight’s biggest opportunities. Tate nearly finished a rear-naked choke in round two, then secured Holm’s back again late in round five.

Holm tried to escape by throwing Tate forward, but Tate held the choke and rendered the champion unconscious at 3:30. Tate became UFC women’s bantamweight champion.

Nunes, Latifi, and Anderson win beneath the upsets

Amanda Nunes defeated Valentina Shevchenko by unanimous decision in their first meeting. Ilir Latifi outpointed Gian Villante, Corey Anderson defeated Tom Lawlor, and Siyar Bahadurzada submitted Brandon Thatch.

Complete UFC 196 results

• Nate Diaz def. Conor McGregor — submission (rear-naked choke); round 2, 4:12.
• Miesha Tate def. Holly Holm — technical submission (rear-naked choke); round 5, 3:30. Tate won the UFC women’s bantamweight championship.
• Ilir Latifi def. Gian Villante — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Corey Anderson def. Tom Lawlor — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Amanda Nunes def. Valentina Shevchenko — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Siyar Bahadurzada def. Brandon Thatch — submission (arm-triangle choke); round 3, 4:11.
• Nordine Taleb def. Erick Silva — KO (punch); round 2, 1:34.
• Vitor Miranda def. Marcelo Guimarães — TKO (head kick and punches); round 2, 1:09.
• Darren Elkins def. Chas Skelly — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Diego Sanchez def. Jim Miller — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Jason Saggo def. Justin Salas — TKO (punches); round 1, 4:31.
• Teruto Ishihara def. Julian Erosa — KO (punches); round 2, 0:34.

UFC 196 produced two major upsets on the same night: Diaz stopped McGregor’s momentum at welterweight, and Tate ended Holm’s brief championship reign.

Sources

Sherdog: complete UFC 196 results.

Article Tags

UFC, UFC 196, Mixed Martial Arts