In Portuguese the move is called the mata leao. The lion killer. And on Saturday night in Las Vegas, the strangle known in English as the rear naked choke took down two of the UFC’s most impressive predators.



The colorful career of Conor McGregor hit a speed bump when Nate Diaz clung to his back and interrupted the flow of blood to the Irishman’s well coifed head, forcing a tapout at 4:12 of the second round in the main event of UFC 196.

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In the co-headliner, Holly Holm, the woman who almost decapitated Ronda Rousey, seemed on the verge of fending off Miesha Tate before she was rendered unconscious in the fifth round. Tate became the third woman to hold the UFC belt at 135lbs following a terrific title contest that altered the state of things.

UFC 196 was a crucial setup point for the Las Vegas fight promotion’s 2016.

If McGregor had successfully stepped up 25lbs from his championship weight, the “Notorious One” would be have been setup for title fights across three weight divisions, an unheard of status for any fighter in the UFC. Such was the temptation of letting McGregor move from 145 to 155, and 155 to 170. But because California’s Diaz handled McGregor’s full steam, bled some, then came back to tattoo the featherweight champion, the UFC’s biggest star was forced to pay a price. Such is the equation with risk taking, and the reason so many people wouldn’t put themselves out there like McGregor has.

The main-event spectacle peaked as a contest of ill-will. There was no touching of the gloves and plenty of jawing. McGregor looked for overhand lefts, and missed badly several times. This was not the precision king who sniped José Aldo or picked apart Dennis Siver. Despite taking several uppercuts and what looked like big lefts, Diaz stood up well to McGregor’s power as the action pushed into the second round.

With the right side of Diaz’s face covered in blood, McGregor sought to overwhelm a man 10lbs heavier and four inches taller. But then McGregor was hurt by a straight left, and it was clear at that moment that he is most probably unsuited for the welterweight division.

McGregor offered everything he had, and when that didn’t work he mirrored the actions of several of his foes, making a desperate takedown attempt. Moments later Diaz (19-10) locked in the choke and celebrated with his brother Nick, his team, and his longtime boxing trainer Richard Perez.

“I took the chance going up to 170,” McGregor said. “But Nate came in. I felt I took him the first round. I was inefficient with my energy. I’m humble in victory or defeat. He was efficient. I wasn’t efficient.”

The loss should halt any idea of McGregor (19-3) fighting for the UFC welterweight title against the likes of Robbie Lawler. That would appear to be a terrible idea for the featherweight champion’s future earnings and health. Whether or not interest exists in seeing McGregor get another shot at UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos will be a direct reflection of how fans treat him in the wake of getting choked out by a mid-tier welterweight, who in 2014 lost a lopsided decision to the current Brazilian belt holder.

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McGregor’s future is as clouded as that of the women in the bantamweight division. With Rousey taking time off, the UFC let Holm defend her title instead of having her sit on what would have been a highly bankable rematch. Now, after Tate’s stunning late finish, the division seems entirely out of skew.

Through four rounds Holm (10-1) appeared poised to retain the title. In the second round, Tate (18-5) dominated action on the floor, beating up Holm as she angled for a choke. The champion showed what she was made of by surviving the round, which all three judges scored 10-8. And as Holm recovered and regained momentum, Tate knew she had one last chance to make good on possibly the last title opportunity of her career.

UFC (@ufc) What a round for @MieshaTate!!!!!! #UFC196 https://t.co/hfM0UUs7cY

“I knew I had to finish the fight,” said Tate, who turns 30 in August. “I had to find that perfect time. I had to be perfect in the fifth.”

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Despite being frustrated on most of her takedown attempts, Tate swarmed into one as she grabbed Holm’s waist and twisted down to the floor. Holm stood, fighting as hard as she could to avoid having Tate on top of her again, and made the mistake of exposing her neck.

“I thought I had to be like a pitbull on a bone,” Tate said. “I wasn’t letting go of it.”

Tate wouldn’t until Holm could hold on no more at 3:30 of the fifth and final round.