FRAT WARNING! This is an editorial.
Something I've observed from people who self-destruct because of pressure is that they sabatoge their opportunities by creating conflict, but try to maintain a narrative that gives them an excuse or way out of the situation.
An example was when Nick Diaz kept avoiding meetings and press conferences and kept fighting with the UFC over social media to get himself suspended. I think he was also aware he would be tested and would fail for weed, so he continued smoking knowing the consequences. At the time all of this happened, he was looking for a way out because the pressure was too much. Afterward, it was nothing but excuses and trying defer the blame onto the UFC by using the victim card. The fact is, he just didn't want to be in there. He needed a break.
The same thing happened with Rampage when he drove his truck like an asshole through L.A.
Roger Huerta is another example. That Sports Illustrated cover put way too much pressure on him, and he couldn't fight the same afterward, he began to panic and fight like shit. He never recovered.
Ronda Rousey is another example. There was a massive amount of hype, and although she came out strong, Holly ate her soul. No way she is the same, after coming down from all that pressure. She'll avoid Holly for years if she has to because she needs time to recover.
The same thing happened with Gina Carano. Once she got lit by Cyborg, her desire to fight vanished. There was too much pressure being hyped as the greatest female fighter in the world, so when she lost it she just moved on and will likely never fight again knowing she might get matched back up against Cyborg in the future, someone who she has no chance against. The hype was not warranted, it was too soon. Same thing with Rousey, Huerta, and Diaz.
The thing with pressure is it eats away at people because these fighters who become famous are just regular people who end up in a situation where expectation and success are everything, and so the fear becomes losing it all rather than simply losing a fight.
Personally, I think Conor realizes he's fucked against Nate if he shows up to fight Nate again. He knows he doesn't have the tools, and he is at a size and power disadvantage, as well as a disadvantage in boxing exchanges and in grappling. Conor's invincibility and confidence was shattered, and now the pressure is too much. He absolutely needs to win the rematch to regain the invincibility and reputation, especially in Ireland, so he can get over the previous loss and justify the excuse that he just didn't train properly.
But I think Conor knows that is bullshit. Nate didn't get in as much training as he could have, and no amount of training for Nate is enough for Conor to beat Nate at UFC 200. Maybe he could down the road, in a couple years, but not this summer, fuck no.
All of this Tweet bullshit and fighting with the UFC about money is just a way out. I think he is self-destructing and he is creating a narrative that gives him an excuse for being pushed out.
A truly confident fighter would be behaving the way Nate Diaz is behaving. He called out Conor, took a fight against Conor on short notice, fucked Conor up, agreed to a rematch, and has been staying clean and meeting all of his obligations leading up to the fight. He is ready to train, promote, and show up and beat Conor again and get paid. He's confident and professional about it, and he's not creating chaos by making excuses and demands.
On the other hand, you have Conor. He's a mess. He wants no part of this, and needs a break from the pressure, so he is creating chaos. He is using the victim card. He is suddenly a victim of self-promotion and not being able to devote enough time to training. Leading up to the fight with Nate, everything out of Conor's mouth was how well his training has gone, how prepared he is, how confident and relaxed he is. Blah blah blah. Now, suddenly he wasn't and was kept from training properly by his media obligations? Can't have it both ways.
Right now it's Conor with all the excuses, with the self-defeating behavior, and it's him creating the conflict. Nate is ready to fight and isn't fucking around. Even Dana said that with Conor he doesn't know where all of this is coming from.
Mark my words, Conor is going to drag this shit out. It's not about the money, the media obligations, the UFC's policies...it's about the pressure and him crashing. He needs time to recover.
Also, Wiedman will never recover from that beating Rockhold put on him. Same situation, it was too much for Wiedman. Rockhold is too talented, confident, and good-looking for Wiedman to beat him.
