We already knew that the fight was happening but the confirmation that McGregor vs Diaz is going to be at 170 once again has ensured that, although they may not have been happy to be beaten to the punch, the UFC made quite the splash with last night's announcement.
The addition of Aldo vs Edgar for the interim featherweight title has also ensured that McGregor's first UFC loss has done little to dampen interest around the July 9th event. And it's fair to say that the response has been as mixed as we've come to expect.
At the end of the day, Dana White and the Fertittas are delighted about the fact that they'll all be rolling in cash this summer. All that attendance money from a brand new arena and what's sure to be record PPV numbers means that anyone complaining about a non-title rematch headlining what is/should have been the biggest event in the promotions history can simply keep whinging.
When there's that kind of money to be made, it really doesn't matter about anything else.
Sooooo about #UFC200 ... pic.twitter.com/piMKcn1rX6
— UFC (@ufc) March 31, 2016
John Kavanagh was in a philosophical mood in the aftermath of the announcement.
Win or Learn #UFC200 make mistakes, don't repeat them.
— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) March 30, 2016
But that's not to say that everyone is happy about it. Rafael dos Anjos for one is not letting up on his criticism of McGregor.
feel bad for Aldo and Edgar,after ufc200 Conor ll find another fight in a different division,so he can keep his belt for lil longer #coward
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) March 31, 2016
Rumble Johnson is another who's pointing out the fact that Frankie Edgar may be getting a shot at an interim title but, at the end of the day, he's still not getting what many would suggest he deserves.
Interim title?
I thought Frankie Edgar worked his butt off for a Real title shot...
This is crazy to me!— Rumble Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) March 31, 2016
For his part, it would seem that The Answer is just happy to be getting back in the Octagon, regardless of who he'll be facing.
Something that Jose Aldo would appear to agree with.
It's about time.
Chegou a hora.#UFC200 pic.twitter.com/xmCp1BehXw— Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) March 31, 2016
But there's no point in denying the fact that quite a few people share the opinion that McGregor's ego is pushing him into a no-win situation and the fact that the UFC are going along with it is a damning indictment of everything that is wrong with the organisation.
As for the strength of the card, there's quite a few comparing it to UFC 100 (as should be the case) and not everyone is suggesting that there's a positive comparison to be made but nonetheless, there's no denying that everyone is going to tune in.
UFC 100 was MMA's best foot forward at the time it took place. UFC 200 is, too, but in the immediate sense, not larger state.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) March 31, 2016
UFC 200 is a fine card. There's not much wrong with it other than how it meets the (fair, promoted or imagined) expectations of fans.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) March 31, 2016
It may be one to divide opinion but McGregor vs Diaz II is happening and when it comes around, we'd be willing to be t that there won't be too many arguments with the finalised card.
