Conor McGregor plotted his UFC 202 post-fight speech for months
For the past few months, Conor McGregor has heard Nate Diaz's words echoing through his head ever since he was submitted by the Stockton, Calif. native at UFC 196 in March.
"I'm not surprised, (expletive)," Diaz shouted to the raucous crowd that night after beating McGregor.
McGregor was granted an automatic rematch and to ensure victory this time around, he uprooted his entire team and moved to Las Vegas for four months and poured any and every resource at his disposal into the camp to get ready for a second shot at Diaz last Saturday night.
It all paid off because McGregor got the victory after a grueling five-round battle with Diaz and then he was able to repay the favor with some words of his own.
"Surprise, surprise (expletive) — the king is back!" McGregor said.
In a backstage video released by McGregor's own MacLife brand, it turns out he had been plotting to say those words for several months as he got ready for the rematch with Diaz at UFC 202.
McGregor faced a mountain of criticism from fans and fellow fighters after falling to Diaz the first time around so this was his way of paying every one of them back with a win and a strong message of his own following the win.
(WARNING EXPLICIT LANGUAGE IN THE VIDEO)
"Surprise, surprise (expletive) — the king is back. I planned to say that for months. I had that in my head for months I was going to say that. Surprise, surprise, (expletive), the king is back.
"They all doubt me. Doubt me now," McGregor said. "Weight is no issue. (Expletive) weight."
As McGregor carried himself through the backstage area on a pair of crutches thanks to a banged up shin from kicking at Diaz for 25 straight minutes, he also had one more message for anyone who was within earshot of the Irishman after UFC 202 ended.
With fighters like Dan Henderson standing nearby as well as camps from other fighters who were competing on the card, McGregor shouted one more message to remember him by before leaving the arena.
"They all doubt me! Every one of you's doubt me," McGregor screamed. "Doubt me now!"
