Nate Diaz

Nate Diaz hadn’t fought in three years prior to tonight, but the Stockton star showed no signs of ring rust at UFC 241, during his entertaining fight with Anthony Pettis.

Round one

Diaz came out pressuring as expected. Pettis planted a nice counter right hook not long in. Diaz continued to move forward and clinched up with Pettis along the cage. Pettis worked his way out and fired in a hard body shot. Pettis grazed Diaz with a head kick moments later and the latter clinched up once again. Pettis worked his way out but ate a right hand. Not long after, Diaz shot in with a single leg and Pettis attempted to lock up a guillotine. Diaz defended, however, and worked his head out. Pettis attempted to roll out and gave up his back, but the round ended before Diaz could work any subs.

Round two

Pettis fired in a leg kick moments in but Diaz blocked it and “Showtime” stumbled back. Diaz continued to move forward but Pettis offered more strikes. Diaz kept pawing at his eye and the ref momentarily stopped the fight. Pettis planted a right and just missed with a head kick. Diaz returned to pressuring and ended up taking the back of Pettis. The fight went to the floor and as Pettis got back to his feet, he took a knee to the head. Diaz followed up with a hard elbow along the cage. Diaz started to pour on punches and Pettis appeared to be failing. Diaz followed up with a couple of knees in the clinch but Pettis opened up a cut on the Stockton fighter. Before the second round ended, Diaz landed more shots in the pocket.

Round three

Diaz moved in and started looking for the clinch. Pettis countered with some solid shots and he pushed Diaz to the fence. Moments later, Diaz blasted Pettis with a couple of thumping knees and then followed up with punches. Pettis went to the floor and Diaz took his back. Pettis reversed, however, and took the top position. Pettis eventually postured up and threw an elbow, but Diaz threatened with an armbar. In the ensuing scramble, Pettis took the back of Pettis again. Before the final horn went, Pettis took the top position again, before having to defend a triangle-choke. Great fight.

After Diaz was announced as the winner, he proceeded to call for a fight with Jorge Masvidal.

Here are the results so far for UFC 241.

Nate Diaz def. Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Paulo Costa def. Yoel Romero via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Sodiq Yusuff def. Gabriel Benitez via TKO (punches) R1, 4:14
Derek Brunson def. Ian Heinisch via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Khama Worthy def. Devonte Smith via TKO (punches) R1, 4:15
Cory Sandhagen def. Raphael Assuncao via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Drakkar Klose def. Christos Giagos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Casey Kenney def. Manny Bermudez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Hannah Cifers def. Jodie Esquibel via unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Kyung Ho Kang def. Brandon Davis via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Sabina Mazo def. Shana Dobson via unanimous decision (30-24, 30-25, 30-25)

Mentioned in this article:

More About: