Nate Diaz brought the curtain down on his UFC career in style, earning a submission win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279.
Originally scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev, Diaz had a change of opponent after Chimaev missed weight, but managed to put in a vintage performance for the win, locking in a choke in the 4th round to earn a submission victory.
The fight itself was full of antics by two of the most unorthodox fighters in the UFC. Diaz stuck to his guns, using his boxing to open several cuts on Ferguson’s face while “El Cucuy” decided to use calf kicks to keep his distance.
After a back-and-forth early rounds, Tony Ferguson attempted an unsuccessful takedown on Nate Diaz in the fourth round which he countered to lock in a choke for the win succumbing Ferguson to a fifth straight loss.
In his postfight interview, the California native took a parting shot at Connor McGregor before hinting at a career in boxing. His storybook ending in UFC could have been very different for him had he faced Khamzat Chimaev who steamrolled his Kevin Holland in the co-main event.
The Swede wasted little time going for a takedown against Holland but the American managed to fend off a few attempts until a relentless Chimaev succeeded and used a D’Arce choke at 2:13 in the first round to win by submission.
It was the fourth time Chimaev absorbed zero strikes inside the Octagon taking him to a 6-0 record in UFC.
