Diaz bests Pettis in first UFC struggle in three years
ANAHEIM, Calif. — What’s three years anyway, proper?
In his extremely anticipated return to the Octagon, Nate Diaz was good in a unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) win over Anthony Pettis within the co-main occasion of UFC 241 on Saturday at Honda Heart.
Diaz had not fought since a loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 202 on Aug. 20, 2016. He imposed his will on Pettis early and infrequently. Diaz was in a position to press Pettis towards the cage in each spherical and land punch combos, elbows and knees. He closed the primary and third rounds in good positions on the bottom, an space he additionally managed when the struggle went there.
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Afterward, Diaz mentioned he’s excited by combating Jorge Masvidal subsequent. He mentioned he was impressed by Masvidal’s five-second knockout of Ben Askren final month. Diaz mentioned there aren’t many “gangsters” left in MMA, however he considers Masvidal to be one.
“However he ain’t no West Coast gangster,” mentioned Diaz, who hails from Stockton, California, and loved an enormous partisan crowd on Saturday.
Diaz’s finest spherical was the third. As had occurred a number of instances, Diaz pushed Pettis towards the cage and landed a prolonged mixture with punches. Pettis dropped however survived till the tip of the spherical.
Pettis had his moments in each spherical. When hanging at distance, he was simpler than Diaz. By the tip, Diaz was reduce close to his proper eye. However every time Pettis began gaining momentum from the surface, Diaz closed the gap and made it a clinch struggle, which he dominated.
Pettis posted a photograph of his foot trying severely swollen and bruised on Instagram after the struggle, saying within the caption that Diaz had a tough head.
The bout was contested at welterweight, although each males have spent nearly all of their careers at light-weight. Diaz is the fifth fighter in UFC historical past to land greater than 2,000 whole strikes.
Diaz (20-11) went 1-1 towards McGregor in 2016. They had been two of the largest pay-per-view occasions in UFC historical past. Diaz, 34, has an enormous cult following amongst followers for his irreverence, thrilling combating type and propensity to flip a double chook. He had not fought since that star-making 12 months as a result of he wasn’t in a position to come to phrases with the UFC.
Pettis (22-9), the previous UFC light-weight champion, was coming off a knockout win over Stephen Thompson. “Showtime” has alternated wins and losses going again to 2016. Pettis, 32, has been one of many UFC’s most marketable stars over time, as soon as getting his likeness emblazoned on Wheaties containers.