The Vin Diesel starrer “xXx: The Return of Xander Cage" marks UFC fighter Conor McGregor's acting debut. (Photo : Instagram/Vin Diesel)
Vin Diesel's "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage" co-star and Conor McGregor faced Nate Diaz in a welterweight match at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 5, Saturday. Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao was among those who took to Facebook to share their thoughts.
Originally, Pacquaio wrote in his official Facebook page, "Let's go, Conor!" However, it was deleted minutes later and he posted a new status, which reads, "What a fight. Congrats to Diaz."
Fans of McGregor were shocked when the UFC star who has won 15 straight fights lost to Diaz, who had no training camp and was on short notice. Despite the surprising result, the venue was not loud and there were no great roar.
Celebrating the winner's victory, a small group of Diaz fans holding black t-shirts marched through the stands. On the other hand, McGregor's fans did not show any great sense of anger or agitation, according to The Guardian.
Before McGregor lost to Diaz with the former submitting the latter via rear-naked choke, Miesha Tate also had submitted Holly Holm via rear-naked coke. Holm took the belt from Diesel's "Furious 7" actress Ronda Rousey in 2015 and this made Tate the third women's bantamweight champion in UFC history.
Several actors and singers watched the UFC 196 event in Las Vegas including Gerard Butler, Josh Brolin, Bruno Mars and Tyga. A spot near the quarterback ringside was reserved for Academy Award winner and "The Revenant" star Leonardo DiCaprio, according to New York Post.
Aside from recently losing their undefeated status as a fighter, McGregor and Rousey will also have another common denominator. When "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage" hits theaters on Jan. 20, 2017, the two mixed martial artists will have been both featured in a film with Diesel.
Among McGregor and Diesel's "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage" co-stars are Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa, Kris Wu, Deepika Padukone, Samuel L. Jackson, Ice Cube, Ruby Rose, Toni Collette, Hermione Corfield, Andrey Ivchenko and Al Sapienza. Miss Universe 2015 first runner-up Ariadna Gutierrez was also recently added to the cast.
Watch the UFC 196 press conference with McGregor and Diaz here:
