Conor McGregor opens as more than 3-1 favorite in UFC 196 main event vs. Nate Diaz

Following Tuesday’s major change in the UFC 196 main event, there’s been a major shift in the odds on Conor McGregor.

McGregor (19-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) opened as an underdog in January when he was booked to fight lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos (25-7 MMA, 14-5 UFC). But when dos Anjos dropped out of their fight next week with a broken foot, McGregor got a new opponent: Nate Diaz (18-10 MMA, 13-8 UFC).

And against Diaz, McGregor has opened as more than a 3-1 favorite at most online sports books, according to Best Fight Odds. The price on McGregor can be found as high as -370, with the comeback on Diaz as much as +310.

That means a $100 bet on Diaz could give you a return of $410, including your original wager. A $100 bet on featherweight champ McGregor at -370 would pay out a profit of just $27.03, plus your original bet back.

Diaz is coming off a unanimous decision win over Michael Johnson at UFC on FOX 17 in December, but has lost three of his past five fights and is just 5-5 in his past 10, including a loss to former champ Benson Henderson in a lightweight title fight.

UFC President Dana White announced the new McGregor vs. Diaz booking late Tuesday night on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” White said the fight was offered to former champ Jose Aldo and former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar, who both turned it down. White did not elaborate on the reasons they turned the fight down, but Edgar currently is recovering from an injury, and after being knocked out by McGregor in just 13 seconds at UFC 194 in December, Aldo only recently was removed from the medically suspended list. White also said Donald Cerrone said yes to the fight, but the promotion ultimately decided Diaz was the best fit on short notice.

McGregor was set to fight dos Anjos at lightweight, attempting to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles at the same time. With a win, McGregor had designs on moving up another weight class to welterweight to go after a third title there. But as it stands, he’ll have to wait to go after the lightweight belt. But he will be moving up to welterweight – the fight with Diaz will take place at 170 pounds.

UFC 196 takes place March 5 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main card will air on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass. The co-main event is a women’s bantamweight title bout between champion Holly Holm and former title challenger Miesha Tate, with the winner expected to face former champ Ronda Rousey later this year.

For more on UFC 196, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.