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Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz in the aftermath of their bout at UFC 196 on 5 March. Eric Jamison

Revenue takes precedence over rankings as the UFC bend the rules to suit McGregor's needs

A rematch with Nate Diaz awaits Conor McGregor.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS inevitable yet there was still an enormous sense of disappointment and frustration among MMA fans when the UFC confirmed that Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz will meet again at UFC 200.

The secret has been out since Ariel Helwani first reported that the fight was in the works a fortnight ago. Judging by the reaction to last nightโ€™s breaking news on โ€˜UFC Tonightโ€™, MMAโ€™s social media community had been in denial. They clung to the hope that McGregor would move back down to the more familiar territory of the 145lbs division to defend his featherweight title in Las Vegas on 9 July.

Baffled by the decision to give McGregor an immediate rematch with Diaz, they questioned the logic of the UFCโ€™s decision to headline a landmark event with a fight that wonโ€™t have implications in any division. Bear in mind that Diaz-McGregor was initially merely a marriage of convenience due to an injury to Rafael dos Anjos.

The message from the majority appears to be that a rematch between a featherweight champion and a lightweight contender in a welterweight bout makes little sense, and itโ€™s an assertion thatโ€™s difficult to argue with.

However, the caveat to those expressions of disapproval is a widespread admission from the complainants that theyโ€™ll be tuning in nevertheless to see if McGregor can avenge his only loss in the UFC to date. Therein lies the reasoning behind the UFCโ€™s decision to book the rematch.

The dyed-in-the-wool fans want McGregor to put his featherweight belt on the line against Frankie Edgar, who represents the last unanswered question for the Irish star at 145lbs. Itโ€™s an intriguing match-up and one that has the potential to be as tricky as any for McGregor, but the fight โ€” even with the UFCโ€™s biggest asset involved โ€” wouldnโ€™t have the same capacity to entice observers with a casual interest, which is the difference between a successful event and a record-breaking one.

When thereโ€™s a clear distinction to be made between the earning power of two respective contests, the decision-making process becomes simple for Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and the UFCโ€™s top brass โ€” particularly when they can pass it off under the disguise of the demands of an โ€œobsessedโ€ fighter.

Conor McGregor, Dana White and Nate Diaz Conor McGregor, Dana White and Nate Diaz at the UFC 196 pre-fight press conference. Raymond Spencer / INPHO Raymond Spencer / INPHO / INPHO

Sure, the UFCโ€™s default plan was for McGregor to face Edgar this summer, but when White and Fertitta recently visited the defeated Dubliner in Las Vegas to discuss โ€œwhat he was thinking and whatโ€™s nextโ€ โ€” which the UFC president told ESPNโ€™s SportsCenter last night, as if it were a luxury afforded to every fighter โ€” they hardly expected anything other than pleas for a rematch from a guy like McGregor, whose pride was badly stung at the MGM Grand on 5 March.

The SBG fighterโ€™s calls for a second crack at Diaz would have been music to the UFC bossesโ€™ ears. Theyโ€™ve been in the game long enough to know that โ€˜Cocky superstar takes big risk in the pursuit of revengeโ€™ sells far more pay-per-views than โ€˜Humbled champion returns to featherweight with his tail between his legsโ€™.

And who could blame McGregor for calling for that opportunity? As his coach, John Kavanagh, wrote this morning in his column here on The42, McGregor is adamant that โ€œthe last fight didnโ€™t accurately reflect the skills and ability he possessesโ€. If he truly believes that and can exert sufficient influence over the men in control to engineer a chance to rectify it, it would be remiss of him not to do so.

Could it backfire? One defeat has arguably made McGregor an even bigger star than he was pre-UFC 196. Two in a row would prove detrimental to his reputation as a man who has transcended the sport of mixed martial arts like no one has ever done before โ€” a reputation he worked hard to construct.

But a slip-up against Frankie Edgar, in this observerโ€™s view, would be just as likely. Thereโ€™s no easy option for McGregor, although his insistence on facing Diaz at 170lbs appears to be an unnecessary move fuelled by stubbornness and a bruised ego.

Edgar is the big loser in this equation. McGregorโ€™s delayed return to featherweight has backed Edgar into a corner. Already the number one contender at 145lbs, the 34-year-old New Jersey native now must reaffirm that status as the leading challenger by overcoming the last man to defeat him.

UFC Mixed Martial Arts Frankie Edgar, who'll face Jose Aldo for an interim UFC featherweight title at UFC 200. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

If Edgar can succeed against Jose Aldo in Julyโ€™s token-gesture interim featherweight title fight โ€” a bizarre scenario with the reigning champion competing on the same card โ€” his reward will be to remain in the very same position that heโ€™s in now. The former lightweight champion has nothing to gain and everything to lose, and his predicament is a consequence of the power Conor McGregor has at decision-making level in the UFC.

As the man who generates more revenue than any other fighter, McGregor can afford to do as he pleases โ€” for now at least โ€” which heโ€™ll maintain is a reward for his substantial efforts as a promoter. The current landscape in the UFC is being shaped by one manโ€™s plans, irrespective of the damage it may do to the ambitions of his rivals.

The debates will continue to rage as fans try to make sense of what the UFC are aiming to achieve here, but the search for logic shouldnโ€™t take too long. The UFC is, first and foremost, a private business. Revenue is their priority. Only once that has been addressed does it become a sporting organisation.

Historically, one of the advantages the UFC possessed in its rivalry with boxing was that, more often than not, the champions faced the top contenders, who were incentivised by the existence of an established pathway to the summit, and then rewarded with a title shot when they got there. Can we now expect an increased focus on fights that sell over fights that are dictated by the rankings?

Conor McGregor has often stated that his preference is the former โ€” โ€œIโ€™m here for a fight and a cheque and thatโ€™s it. Fuck the belt,โ€ he said before his fight with Nate Diaz earlier this month. Diaz echoed those sentiments during last weekโ€™s appearance on โ€˜UFC Tonightโ€™: โ€The best fighters in the world are getting paid the best money. The belt is a fairytale, as far as Iโ€™m concerned.โ€

According to Dana White, Conor McGregor will finally defend his featherweight title once the Diaz rematch is in the books. Whether that decision will be authorised by McGregor remains to be seen.

But as long as the audience overlooks its pithy protests by continuing to consume whatโ€™s being served up, the future will be determined by revenue, not rankings.

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Dana White: Featherweight title defence next for McGregor after Diaz rematch

John Kavanagh: Conor is the more skilful fighter and heโ€™ll prove that in July

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17 Comments
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    Mute Setanta Landers
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    Mar 31st 2016, 6:14 PM

    The UFC is a business. The fight business. It sells fights. It would let Mcgregor fight a lathered pig if it made more money. Anyone who thinks otherwise is niave.

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    Mute See My Vest
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    Mar 31st 2016, 7:03 PM

    Well considering the outcome of the last fight I hope Diaz demands an equal figure for show money and thereโ€™s a decent bonus for the winner.

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    Mute James Gorman
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    Mar 31st 2016, 9:12 PM

    Very unfair that Aldo was not given a scheduled rematch given his career and status. This Diaz remarch is bs.

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    Mute Eric Murrihy
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    Mar 31st 2016, 6:38 PM

    Edgar beats Aldo = bigger fight against Mcgregor
    Aldo beats Edgar = bigger fight against Mcgregor down the line.
    Mcgregor beats Diaz = bigger fight againt dos anjos
    Mcgregor losses Diax = he fights either Aldo or Edgar.
    Every option = UFC win

    159
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    Mute Aaron Buckley
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    Mar 31st 2016, 6:56 PM

    And Aldo or Edgar canโ€™t complain too much because I imagine they are getting a decent payday for their fight co headlining UFC 200.
    Plus more importantly the victor has the mother of all pay days guaranteed by the end of the year vs McGregor

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    Mute Rudiger McMonihan
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    Mar 31st 2016, 8:32 PM

    Itโ€™s all showmanship from Edgar and Aldo too; building up their future fights vs McG.

    1. They both complained about him fighting RDA instead of defending his title, but after RDA pulled out neither of them took it, despite claiming theyโ€™d โ€œfight anytime, anywhereโ€. They may have been injured and unavailable, but thatโ€™s not the UFC or McGโ€™s fault. The offer was made.

    2. Aldo defended his belt once a year and people went nuts when McG got an interim (โ€œfake!โ€) title, yet when he doesnโ€™t defend his belt after 7 months people are going on about how โ€œmoney runs everythingโ€ and โ€œMcG is afraid of Edgarโ€.

    Itโ€™s all pantomime stuff. At this point Edgar and Aldo are more annoying than McG. At least he can be funny sometimes

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    Mute See My Vest
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    Mar 31st 2016, 8:37 PM

    1 when Aldo pulled out of their original fight Edgar accepted but they gave it to Mendes, he was on the injured list for the RDA vacancy and shouldnโ€™t have even been in the conversation as a replacement

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    Mute Rudiger McMonihan
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    Mar 31st 2016, 8:54 PM

    Yeah I did mention that he was injured. In fairness, if Edgar was given the mendes fight people would have moaned about mendes not getting it. Itโ€™s 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other. The only reason Edgar makes so much noise is because he wants the pay day. Nobody cared when Aldo was pulling out of fights during previous years

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Apr 1st 2016, 1:39 AM

    Thatโ€™s not fair, Edgar is making noise because he deserves a title fight. He has beaten Charles Oliveira, BJ Penn, Cub Swanson, Urijah Faber and Chad Mendes in his last five fights.

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    Mute See My Vest
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    Mar 31st 2016, 6:53 PM

    Itโ€™s total horseshit. Conor beats Siver = title shot. 7 year champ loses 10 year unbeaten streak = no rematch. Edgar destroys Mendes = no title shot. Conor gets beaten in 2 rounds = immediate rematch. Any shred of integrity that the UFC had left has just been thrown out the window. Itโ€™s pure money. Iโ€™ll be watching WrestleMania this weekend. At least they admit itโ€™s all about revenue. Having an interim champ for a division where the actual champ is healthy and active is a complete joke. Iโ€™ll give 200 a miss. Looking forward to Cormier v Jones next month providing Jones is out of jail!

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    Mute Dave Bourke
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    Apr 1st 2016, 12:57 AM

    I guarantee you wonโ€™t be giving UFC 200 a miss regardless of your opinion itโ€™s still an incredible card and judging by your comments Iโ€™m sure youโ€™ll be hoping McG gets beaten

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Apr 1st 2016, 1:33 AM

    But Aldo turned down a rematch a week after saying โ€œanywhere, anytimeโ€ I agree with a lot of what youโ€™re saying but take for example Cub Swanson, he lost a title fight against Aldo in 8 seconds, his next fight? John Franchi. A guy coming off a loss to Manny Gamburyan in his second WEC fight. I think that after such a swift and decisive loss the UFC brass feel fighters have to prove they still want it.

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    Mute Dulra Cork
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    Mar 31st 2016, 8:51 PM

    To be fair, thatโ€™s as good and honest an appraisal of the situation as is possible. Appreciated, from a sideline MMA fan.

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    Mute John McCann
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    Mar 31st 2016, 9:01 PM

    @See My Vest
    Edgar wasnt on the injured list until he was offered the fight,then he sent a scan of his torn groin to prove he was injured.UFC had no idea when they called that he was injured. When they called Aldo he was 4 weeks into a training camp but still turned the fight down. So they missed the boat,not McGregors fault,not UFC,their own fault. McGregor/Diaz broke nearly every record in the UFC regards numbers so why not let it happen again. If McGregor wins he gets GSP at 170lbs in the biggest fight in MMA history.Lose and he defends his title against either Aldo or Edgar. Diaz wins he gets GSP,lose and he will still prob get a shot at RDA @ 155. And ur arguement of McGregor gettin treated different to Edgar is ridiculousโ€ฆwhat about when edgar dropped down from 155 to 145 and got an immediate title shot,skipped the whole que.

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    Mute See My Vest
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    Mar 31st 2016, 11:57 PM

    Edgar was already on the injured list before RDA broke his foot and Aldo was cleared to train with contact only a few days after the break if you recall he was concussed after the McG fight. Dana only brought up Edgar because the fans want it. itโ€™s obvious heโ€™s doing his living best to keep his money man away from the wrestler. Just look at how Mendes tossed McG around the cage for a round and a half before he gassed out. Imagine what Frankie would do, and Frankie doesnโ€™t get tired. Also if anyone at 145 can take Conorโ€™s left itโ€™s Edgar. Heโ€™s been rocked my much bigger stronger men than McG and hasnโ€™t been stopped.

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    Mute McGarnagle
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    Apr 1st 2016, 12:50 AM

    So wait, will they not even fight for the intercontinental belt?

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    Mute Ciarรกn
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    Mar 31st 2016, 8:27 PM

    And now they try and bring him down. Put all MMA fighters in Irelnd and Hacks on the map. Bow down to the King!

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