Conor McGregor has lots to lose at UFC 196

As he pursues fights and titles a weight class or two above his own, featherweight champion Conor McGregor seems to have set up a decent insurance plan for himself. Namely, that he's an in-demand sitting champion.

So, win or lose this Saturday against Nate Diaz at welterweight, it would seem likely that McGregor has a title fight main event back at featherweight available to him, next, if he wants. Still, he's risking a lot by fighting up two weight classes, on short notice.

As a man who had to sit out for about a year not too long ago with knee surgery and recovery, McGregor knows that bad injuries can happen, even when you win. If McGregor suffers an injury against Diaz that could keep him out for awhile, he could end up losing his featherweight title because of inactivity.

Perhaps hardcore fans wouldn't blame McGregor much for losing at welterweight, but most casual fans will likely just see him losing to a loud-mouth, non-champion who is about his size. That could damage McGregor's brand of invincibility.

Besides, McGregor and his camp has given plenty of indicators that he wants to move on and up from 145 lbs. Losing to a lightweight, even at welterweight, could affect that dream.

Plenty is at stake for McGregor this Saturday. He's making a high-risk, high-reward type of wager.

If McGregor wins this Saturday, he'll probably be able to choose between a featherweight title defense, lightweight title challenge or welterweight belt challenge, next. Those are a lot of options, and they will come with lots of hype and money.

If he loses to Diaz -- and that is entirely possible -- most, if not all of those options will suddenly fade away for a while. Lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos certainly wouldn't feel he needs to fight McGregor, since he's already dominated Diaz.

Welterweight champion Robbie Lawler wouldn't likely give McGregor a shot after he's already knocked out a man -- Rory MacDonald -- who dominated Diaz. McGregor has been telling the world that he's capable of winning world titles at three weight classes.

With a loss on Saturday, especially against a man who is fighting him with no training camp, McGregor would suddenly seem like a non-factor at both lightweight and welterweight. A win will continue his momentum, but a loss at UFC 196 will bring McGregor's plans to a screeching halt.

He'd have to work his way up in the lightweight and welterweight divisions, from scratch. Those probably wouldn't be headlining bouts, and not be the type of huge business he likes to do.

The Irishman has a huge advantage in this fight against Diaz by simply having been in training camp. He's still risking a lot by fighting up 25 pounds against a guy with elite experience at that weight.

Conor McGregor likes to stack as much pressure onto his shoulders as is possible, before fights. He's certainly done that again, here.

A loss against Nate Diaz wouldn't just be a loss -- it would mean a gigantic hit in momentum for "Notorious" and the immediate availability of more mega-fights.