Postal Connections: Diaz vs. McGregor, Bellator Lawsuit & Cleveland’s Champ

It’s been another banner week for mixed martial arts news and we have the questions to prove it. Be it Nate Diaz doing his thing or Conor McGregor and the persistent Floyd Mayweather Jr. nonsense that keeps swirling around the MMA world, there is plenty to talk about in this week’s edition of Postal Connections.

So, without further ado, away we go.

Did you hear Nate Diaz on the MMA Hour yesterday? He sounds like he is part delusional and part Rain Man when it comes to how the promotional business is run. Me and my friends all love the Diaz brothers and I hope he gets paid but I don’t think he is going to get what he wants. What do you think? – Aaron

Haha, nice description of Nate. Honestly, the Diaz boys have always had what is, sadly enough, a unique view of what they, as fighters, are worth and the comments Nate has made in the aftermath of his upset over McGregor and the purported rematch mirror those of Nick at various times in his career. They understand that they are the people the audience is showing up to see and that there is a number that makes the hardship that goes into training and competing for a fight all worthwhile.

Say what you will about these brash and impetuous fighters but make sure you say they do “get it” when it comes to the fight game and what it means to be a prizefighter. This is not an easy business and they realize that they have a basement figure that has to be met for them to get out there and dance for the promotion that is making the lion’s share of the profits from their efforts.

I don’t disagree with your assertion that Diaz probably wont get what he truly wants but I bet he gets more than what he has been offered to date. The rematch is such box office certainty that the promotion would be foolish not to pay the man some serious coin to get back in there with McGregor and either solidify himself as a legitimate star or go down swinging to the company’s top draw. It is a win-win for everyone involved provided Diaz gets something in the neighborhood of what he feels he is worth.

I bet the fight gets made and I bet both fighters and the UFC make a huge chunk of change in the process.

Thoughts on this Bellator lawsuit that just surfaced?? Seems like pretty serious allegations. - @a_dbears

First off, I’ve only read the complaint and haven’t heard anything from the Bellator side. With that said, I understand after seeing a bunch of lawsuits like this that this is nothing more than an allegation by former employee Zach Light who was let go after a new team of executives took over the promotion. This is the “he said” part of the “he said, she said” dynamic.

Obviously we’ll get much more information as this case moves forward but from my initial parsing of the document I would say there are some things in there that do not surprise me while there are others that seem a bit far fetched.

An executive operating in dual capacities? Yeah, OK, not hard to believe. Coker and Chou saying the things alleged in the complaint? Doubtful, at least in the language depicted in the lawsuit.

Coker is one of the most non-confrontational personalities in the fight business. It’s not that I think he’s a saint, it is just that I have never ever seen him talk like he’s accused of.

My biggest question for Mr. Light would be this: If these allegations were so grave why did it take so long to bring them to the public spotlight? My cynical side doesn’t think there is much to this beyond the accusations and I doubt that rises to the standard of fraud. Either way both sides will have their day in court and, as always, we’ll get a better understanding when the litigation wraps up.

I read your story on Conor McGregor and the UFC being in a civil war. It seemed like you are saying it’s the fault of the UFC for Conor being taken off UFC 200. How will he be able to do anything if he doesn’t come back and fight? He has to do what the UFC tells him or he can’t make any money, you even said he has a lot of fights left on his contract. – Ryan

I am not sure where you get the idea that I think any of this is the UFC’s fault. In any negotiating situation it takes two to tango and both parties have something to lose and something to gain, but bear some responsibility for the impasse. Let’s look at this objectively, both parties are losing money when McGregor is sitting on the sidelines and I’m sure they’d love to have him back at the top of a couple pay-per-view cards before the year is out.

Mac sure likes to spend his hard-earned fortune and he’ll likely need to continue to compete to keep up his luxury-addled lifestyle. Both camps need each other and one of the points of my column was that the idea “Conor needs the UFC more than they need him” is just foolish. The other point being that I doubt we’ve seen the last of this conflict.

I guess it is true the UFC will go on if there is no McGregor but it is a much less attractive property without “The Notorious” in the fold. For a company looking to sell at least a portion of their business that isn’t a good thing. Again, both parties lose when the No. 1 star in the sport isn’t competing.

Can Stipe keep the title in Cleveland? Or will we keep playing HW title hot potato? Watch out for that Cleveland "curse"... - @jaypettry

I definitely think Stipe Miocic can defend the belt against Alistair Overeem, hell, I think he should open as a solid favorite in his first defense which is now set for UFC 203 in his hometown of Cleveland. The bigger issue is will he be able to hold onto it longer than any of the other previous titlists and I’m sorry to say I don’t think he will.

I know, I know, I’ve been on the Cain Velasquez bandwagon for nearly a decade now but I think he has the skill set to take Stipe out of his comfort zone. I think Cain would put Miocic on his back over and over and win by stoppage or perhaps a convincing decision. Only time will tell but I think Cleveland better enjoy this championship while it’s in town.

I think Alvarez has a legit shot against Dos Anjos. Am I right or is that just wishful thinking?‬‬ - @drill_bit

I would never completely write off one Edward Alvarez when it comes to a prizefight but, yeah, he’s got a tall order waiting for him in Rafael dos Anjos. It will be interesting to see how RDA has recovered from the broken foot that cost him a chance at “Red Panty Night” in March. The crafty Alvarez will exploit any little chink in the armor so he better be ready to roll come July 9.

There aren’t too many things that would make me happier than to see Alvarez get his paws on that shiny UFC strap but, sadly, I think RDA will probably be too much for him. Honestly, this is going to be a fight between two extremely hard working and respectful fighters so the sport wins no matter who gets the belt.

Sherdog.com Executive Editor Greg Savage can be reached by email or Twitter @TheSavageTruth. If you would like to have your question or comment answered in the weekly Postal Connections mailbag, please submit them by Wednesday evening each week.