Dana White: Nate Diaz is training for a triathlon, will be in phenomenal shape at UFC 196

When was the last time you've seen Nate Diaz gassed in a mixed martial arts (MMA) fight?

Probably never.

That's because both he and older brother Nick are two of the most well-conditioned athletes in the entire fight game. However, conditioning is not always what wins you a contest in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

You have to combine three things: power, speed and defense. Then, not to mention, there's a plethora of different stand-up and ground arts to be weary of.

As for Diaz, who got the call up to fight featherweight champion Conor McGregor at 170 pounds in the UFC 196 pay-per-view (PPV) main event next Saturday (March 5, 2015) in Las Vegas, he's quite the rangy boxer, with a slick jiu-jitsu game.

And his boss, UFC president Dana White, doesn't think anyone should take him lightly.

"Nate Diaz has been training for a triathlon," White revealed to LA Today (via FOX Sports). "Nate Diaz is in phenomenal shape right now. So he's not coming in out of shape. He's in phenomenal shape right now."

Diaz rides into his tussle with "Notorious" having won a clear cut, three-round decision over Michael Johnson at UFC on FOX 17 last December. The Stockton warrior could be seen routinely smiling and taunting his opponent throughout the encounter, just as McGregor does so often to opponents.

He also had some uncensored post-fight comments for the brash SBG Ireland product.

McGregor and Diaz have already met face-to-face at a pre-fight press conference leaving no doubt that their "Sin City" headliner will be emotionally-charged.

So, are any of you prepared to throw some money down on the underdog Diaz, or are you sticking with the loudmouthed Irishman?

UFC 196 also features a women's bantamweight champion tilt in the co-main event between Holly Holm and two-time title challenger Miesha Tate. For more UFC 196 news and notes click here.