Less than 24 hours after it was confirmed Rafael dos Anjos was out of his lightweight title fight with Conor McGregor, the Dubliner already has a new opponent for March 5th.
In what is undoubtedly going to be a fun fight - the trash-talking in the build-up should be off the charts - McGregor takes on Nate Diaz, not a lightweight but instead welterweight.
Cowboy Cerrone was initially the favourite to face McGregor but Dana White said the UFC felt Diaz would make the more exciting fight.
Here's how Twitter reacted to the news.
Here. We. Go. ? ?#UFC196 pic.twitter.com/CKhB74aUW8
— UFC (@ufc) February 24, 2016
He's going to have to get on his knees and beg...
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) February 23, 2016
Fuck!
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 24, 2016
Sorry to all my real fans and @ufc,I never cancel any fight due to injury but accidents happen #Jesus #truechampion pic.twitter.com/wrV58w9KaS
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) February 24, 2016
. @thenotoriousmma vs Nate Diaz Saturday March 5th on PPV!!!! pic.twitter.com/76e6JGBeCS
— Dana White (@danawhite) February 24, 2016
Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor will be a welterweight fight. Love it.
— Luke Thomas (@SBNLukeThomas) February 24, 2016
Was sleeping before on the flight but now I can't. Keep thinking about "tell him to get comfortable." I mean really. 170? That promo on FOX?
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 24, 2016
Maybe Nate will feel less "underappreciated, underpaid, under-all-kinds-of-shit" after getting the McGregor fight. I hope so.
— Peter Carroll (@PetesyCarroll) February 24, 2016
What a savage of a man McGregor is stepping up two weight classes to save a card. Madness.
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) February 24, 2016
.@TheNotoriousMMA moves up TWO weight classes to face @NateDiaz209. ?? #UFC196
Story: https://t.co/p8X7nE2bga pic.twitter.com/EqoDdzi2v0— UFC (@ufc) February 24, 2016
