March 4, 2016
Update 3/4: Just days before UFC 196 demand for the event is still high, but the amount of available tickets on the secondary market is falling fast. The current average price is $862.07 with a get-in price of $263.
The main event was put together last minute after Rafael dos Anjos was forced to pull out due to injury. However Conor McGregor and replacement Nate Diaz have mixed it up enough in the past few days, esepcially in the press conference to keep interest high in this weekend's event.
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Nate Diaz To Fill In For Non-title Fight Against Conor McGregor
Update 2/24: It didn't take long for an opponent to be found to face Conor McGregor at UFC 196. It was announced Nate Diaz will fill in for the injured Rafael dos Anjos to fight McGregor in a non-title bout at 170 lbs. The original fight was to be at 155 lbs, for dos Anjos' Lightweight title, but McGregor will now move up two weight classes from where he currently holds the Featherweight championship. This will be McGregor's first career fight in the welterweight division.
UFC 196 tickets on the secondary market are still in high demand, though, despite the last minute change. The current average fight for the event -- which also features Holly Holm in his first women's Bantamweight title defense against Miesha Tate -- is $853.16 with a get-in price of $243.
Rafael dos Anjos Out For UFC 196, Leaving Conor McGregor Without Opponent; Holm-Tate Still Scheduled
UPDATE 2/23: There have been reports that Rafael do Anjos will be forced to withdraw from the UFC 196 Lightweight title fight against Conor McGregor due to a broken foot suffered last week. This injury and withdrawal occurs just over a week before the scheduled March 5 date for the pay=per-view event.
McGregor was scheduled to move weight classes and challenge for dos Anjos's Lightweight title rather than defend the Featherweight title he won from Jose Aldo. Because of that, should McGregor stay on the card, he would be in a non-title fight against his opponent. A similar scenario happened the first time McGregor was supposed to fight Aldo at UFC 189. Aldo withdrew due to injury 11 days before the fight and instead McGregor fought Chad Mendes in a bout put together in time for the event.
The title fight between McGregor and dos Anjos was scheduled to be the main event with a Women's Bantamweight title fight holding the place as a co-main event between Holly Holm and Miesha Tate. That fight will still go on as scheduled, but it is yet to be known if that will take over as the main event on the card or if a replacement will come in time to keep a McGregor fight on the card.
UFC 196 Card Officially Features Holly Holm, Conor McGregor Title Fights
UPDATE 1/12: The top of the card for UFC 196 is now official and the event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Conor McGregor will contend for the Lightweight title against champion Rafael dos Anjos, while Holly Holm will make her first title defense against Miesha Tate.
--original article--
UFC 200 grabbed the headlines when a Holly Holm-Ronda Rousey rematch was announced, but another massive card will take place just before it. It was announced late Thursday night that UFC 196 on March 5 will feature two major title fights, including Holm’s first defense of the Women’s Bantamweight Championship. Holm (10-0) upset Rousey with a knockout during UFC 193 and it was widely expected the rematch would be her first title defense, especially after the UFC 200 main event was revealed. She will be facing Miesha Tate (17-5, 4-2 UFC) for her first defense just three months before the scheduled rematch with Rousey.
But that might not even be the biggest fight on the card. Conor McGregor, the current UFC Featherweight champion after his first round defeat of Jose Aldo, will face Rafael dos Anjos for dos Anjos’ Lightweight championship. For the bout, McGregor would be allowed to drop to 155 pounds without having to drop his Featherweight title. McGregor has said he would like to fight and train enough to be in both divisions.
On the women’s side, Tate was in line to get a title fight against Rousey before being passed over for Holm. Tate will now get her chance, which could potentially spoil the headliner for UFC 200 between Rousey and Holm, which will be the first event at the new Las Vegas Arena.
The event was originally scheduled to be held in Rio de Janeiro, but is now more likely to be held in Las Vegas at either MGM Grand Garden Arena or Mandalay Bay Events Center.
An official announcement has not been made and there has yet to be any more details revealed about the event. Check back on the TicketIQ Blog as more announcements are made, the card becomes official and ticket information is released.
It's likely this event would draw high prices on the secondary market. UFC 200 has exceeded a $2,000 average price with limited tickets available. The prior event, UFC 196 in February currently has an average price of $593.94 and a get-in price of $204 and a main event of Fabricio Werdum vs Cain Velasquez.
