Irish MMA fighter Chris 'The Killing' Fields says the weight issue is likely to play a major role in Conor McGregor's Saturday night fight against Nate Diaz.
McGregor is going up from featherweight, a division in which he is UFC champion, to take on Diaz at welterweight which is a full two weight classes above what he has fought at thus far.
Fields has recent experience of what it's like to make that jump to a higher weight class and feels that it will play a huge part in Las Vegas this Saturday.
"It's going to play a big part for Conor as it did for me," Fields told Off The Ball tonight, before discussing how difficult it is to cut down to a lower weight.
"If you think of it like this, it's like trying to run a car on very little fuel, especially for the last few weeks of camp and Conor would be the same when he fights at featherweight. You're almost just battling against the weight rather than getting ready for the fight."
Nate Diaz is seen during his match against UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in their mixed martial arts bout at a UFC on FOX 5 event in Seattle, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012. Henderson retained his title via unanimous 5-rd. decision. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Going up a weight adds more energy and also means the naturally lighter fighter holds a speed advantage according to Fields, although the grappling exchanges will see bigger weight as an advantage.
"I think it's going to suit him," said Fields of McGregor going up weights and expects McGregor to maintain his speed.
He also added that "the idea that Conor might have more power is very scary".
Fields also fancies McGregor to win as he pointed to the "flat-footed" nature of Diaz's approach in the Octagon.
"I don't see it going past the first round. But it will be an exciting two minutes," said Fields as he tipped McGregor for the win.
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