Yesterday and today i've been become obsessed with UFC 202. Through all the hype and everything, ive been thinking about why Conor needed the rematch. I remember after 196 that many people abandoned him. I was also a hater before 196 and i wanted Nate Diaz to win, but i also wanted to see how Conor responded to adversity. Everyone doubted him. The media, the fans, the fighters.
He had height, reach, size disadvantage. He got bullied by Nate the first fight, and he had to conquer his inner demons. Conor's face changed drastically after 196. You could see the darkness in his eyes. He literally aged 10+ years in a few months. I also believe that Conor intentionally skipped the press conference to train 1,5 months extra. I think those months swung the decision in Conor's favour.
In my eyes, his performance at 202 will ALWAYS be the best achievementhe did, even better than 205. In 202 he showed everything, heart, will, skill, determination, and he didn't quit in there which he did in the first fight. Look at Ronda for example. She trademarked fearthereturn, and she didnt even rematch the girl who KO'ed her. That says alot about Conor's character. I have also got my ass kicked back in high school, and i wanted no part of a rematch whatsoever.
Conor's performance at 202 should IMO be the performance of the year.