Conor McGregor has an interesting take on his loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196.
According to MMA Fighting's Marc Raimondi, McGregor likened Diaz to Homer Simpson, referring specifically to the "Simpsons" episode where the iconic TV dad takes up boxing.
"You ever see that episode of The Simpsons where Homer starts boxing? He's competing, he's just sitting in the ring and getting the head slapped off him. Boom, boom, boom. And then just the guy can't punch him no more. And then Homer tips him and the guy falls over. That was similar.
"That's the way Nate was in that fight. He was like Homer Simpson. He just took the shots until I couldn't hit him no more. He's gonna be no different this fight. He's gonna just take the shots and hope that I can't hit him no more. Only, I'm gonna be still there poking him in the face. So, I look forward to it."
Sitcom analogy aside, McGregor, fighting two weight classes heavier than his usual featherweight, ran out of gas after consistently swinging for a knockout in the first round. Diaz capitalized on his fatigue, submitting him with a rear-naked choke in the second.
The Irishman acknowledged the effects of moving up in weight as what did him in, but said he's prepared to go a full five rounds when he meets Diaz again at UFC 202 on Saturday. However, McGregor's hoping the fight won't go the distance, as he'll attempt to put Diaz away from the opening bell as he did the first time around.
"I feel like if there was a little more in the tank, I would have stopped him in the second round. So I feel I will be prepared for five. I will go in anticipating five. I didn't give him respect. He could take a hell of a smack, the boy can. But he will take a hell of a lot more. I still feel like I'll repay the favor second round.
"I'm still gonna go after the boy. I'm still gonna put him against that fence and I'm still gonna bust that soft skin up. He might have a rough chin, but he's got soft skin. So I'm gonna open that face up real nice. The difference will be I will still be there in the late rounds. I'll still be at that tempo. It's a challenge I have. He's a big, slow Mexican beanbag. But I'm gonna take another stab at it. Second round. Mystic Mac."
