– Niall Kelly reports from Las Vegas

FORMER UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT champion Chris Weidman feels Conor McGregor has picked the perfect opponent for his debut at 170lbs.

McGregor moves up two weight classes tomorrow night when he headlines UFC 196 in a five-round bout against Nate Diaz.

It’s a remarkable 25lbs jump from the Dubliner’s spectacular 13-second KO against Jose Aldo in December but Weidman believes that Diaz, who has switched between lightweight and welterweight himself, is a good match-up for a bulked-up McGregor.

“I don’t think Nate Diaz is the biggest, strongest guy at 170,” Weidman said. “I think he’s really a 155er.

I don’t think he’s going to be the guy grabbing you and throwing you around the octagon like dos Anjos would or like a grappler at 170 would.

“He’s an endurance fighter. He’s going to tap you with punches all night long until you don’t respect it, and then you let him punch you, and then he cracks one in there and you don’t see it.

“It’s a lot of weight but (McGregor) is smart enough with who he’s fighting for his first fight at 170.”

McGregor was originally scheduled to fight lightweight champion dos Anjos this weekend, but when the Brazilian pulled out with a foot injury last week, Diaz stepped in on short notice to take the fight.

“I love Nate Diaz,” Weidman said. “I really just hope we can see a great fight but if my money was out there, I’m putting it on Conor.

What’s Diaz got, two weeks’ notice, 11 days’ notice? That’s a real problem to deal with, especially when you’ve got a guy like Conor whose gotten ready for one of the biggest fights of his life to fight dos Anjos, going up in weight against a champion to make a statement.

“This guy is in shape, he’s prepared, and he’s got Diaz on 11 days’ notice. Diaz is longer than him, he’s taller than him, there are things that are going to be different out there, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to be realistic about the situation.

“I’m hoping Nate Diaz makes this a fight.”

Weidman is in Las Vegas this week to support team-mate Gian Villante who takes on Ilir Latifi on Saturday’s main card.

But his own focus is on his promised rematch with Luke Rockhold and the opportunity to avenge the only loss on his professional record and regain the middleweight belt.

If I had to pick one person that I didn’t want to lose to, it’s Luke because he’s cocky, and now he’s even cockier. His head’s got even bigger. Now I’ve got to live with that for the next couple of months and then I’ll make it right.

“All I know is that this loss has got me to a whole other level. If the UFC wants to make a third fight (afterwards), let’s make a third fight. I’m just very excited about my career and where it’s headed right now and the work I’m putting in.

“I’m excited for this next fight and that’s really what I’m focused on. Luke all day long is what I think about, all day long. I’m just on a mission to beat him in this next fight.

“Whatever happens after that, if we have a third fight, whatever the people want to see, but I’m back on my mission of dominating the middleweight division. Luke’s the next guy; whoever else comes after that.

I got humbled and I’m growing to a whole other level. It’s his time to be humbled.

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