On August 20, 2016, one of the most anticipated main events in UFC history took place. Nate Diaz and featherweight champion Conor McGregor were clashing again in Las Vegas, in a rematch of their fiery UFC 196 headliner which saw Diaz submit McGregor in one of MMA’s most massive upsets.

UFC 202, which is the third-highest ranking UFC show in terms of pay-per-views sold, was an even bigger deal than UFC 196.

Diaz had taken McGregor’s momentum, as the Irishman had been on a captivating, breathtaking run which led him to the undisputed featherweight world title. After the short notice loss, which occurred at welterweight, McGregor wanted his rematch, and the build to it was nothing short of palpable.

The bad blood was apparent throughout interviews and other events. Obviously, were Diaz to win again, it would likely stifle McGregor’s goal of taking hold of the lightweight division. The Stockton star had turned himself into a serious needle mover by beating the biggest star the sport has ever seen. So much so that the rematch was originally booked to headline UFC 200, which, for all the misfortune that would eventually befall it, was slated to be one of the biggest events in history.

Flash forward to August 20. UFC 202 was going down from the new T-Mobile Arena. ‘Anytime, any weight, anywhere.’

Vengeance was on the mind of McGregor, and he didn’t waste time with pleasantries; this rematch was no UFC 257. He knocked Diaz down in rounds one and two, and withstood his attack even as he faltered when the fight drew on. Diaz landed serious shots in his own right, as both men had their opponent in trouble at some point or another. Diaz convincingly took the third round, and the fifth, but a close fourth frame would determine the course of the top of mixed martial arts for the immediate future.

Two cards had the fight for McGregor. One had it a draw.

The win meant that McGregor could now go on to fight for the lightweight championship, which he had been booked to do all the way back at UFC 196, where this saga begins. He was victorious over Eddie Alvarez, and his legacy as the first simultaneous two-belt champion in the UFC is one of the finest in the sport. His fights remain the biggest, and his most recent just toppled UFC 202 as second-best selling PPV in the promotion’s history.

As for Diaz, he remains a superstar. It would be almost three calendar years before he competed again, but he was victorious over former lightweight champ Anthony Pettis in his comeback fight. Then, opposite Jorge Masvidal, he headlined the UFC’s 500th live event with the President of the United States in attendance. His June 2021 near-finish of Leon Edwards is a highlight moment of UFC in 2021, and it might very well have cost Edwards an immediately forthcoming title opportunity, even though Diaz lost.

As far as the trilogy? McGregor still wants it. It’s hard to deny that it would do serious PPV numbers. Keep a lookout, as it may be Conor McGregor’s comeback fight in the summer of 2022. It would be absolutely can’t-miss.