LAS VEGAS — Nate Diaz stopped Tony Ferguson with a guillotine choke within the fourth spherical of the swiftly organized foremost occasion of UFC 279 on Saturday night time.
The 37-year-old Diaz (21-13) completed his present UFC contract by ending fellow veteran Ferguson (25-9) in a matchup solely made on Friday after Khamzat Chimaev badly missed weight for his main-event bout with Diaz.
Chimaev stopped Kevin Holland with a D’Arce choke 2:13 into the primary spherical of their grudge match, which was additionally created after Chimaev (12-0) missed weight by 7 1/2 kilos on Friday morning. The UFC dramatically shuffled its card to maintain each Chimaev and Diaz on the present, leading to three new matchups for the ultimate three fights at T-Cell Enviornment.
Diaz’s want to battle the vaunted Chimaev appeared foolhardy in a distinctly Diaz method, however the late matchup with Ferguson was rather more aggressive than the unique reserving possible would have been. Ferguson, who solely agreed to be on the cardboard three weeks in the past, had misplaced his earlier 4 fights over the previous three years, whereas Diaz was 1-2 within the final six years.
“On the finish of the day, I really like the UFC,” Diaz mentioned. “I really feel like I’ve had the longest profession within the UFC, and I’ve had essentially the most profitable one out of everyone.”
Diaz landed punches repeatedly on Ferguson within the first two rounds, and he performed to the group within the third with lengthy walks across the cage between exchanges, even resting with one arm atop the cage momentarily.
Ferguson received Diaz’s consideration with leg kicks — however when Ferguson tried to get right into a grappling match, Diaz utilized the choke and completed at 2:52 of the fourth.
Diaz has already introduced plans to begin his personal promotional firm outdoors the UFC, and every battle may very well be the final for a well-loved fighter who has competed solely 4 instances within the final six years.
However Diaz may not be executed with the UFC, since he received a tweet earlier Saturday from Conor McGregor, who promised to finish their trilogy. Diaz and McGregor cut up two largely thrilling bouts in 2016, and the outcomes catapulted Diaz into the highest echelon of celebrities in blended martial arts.
“I need to get out of the UFC for a minute and present these UFC fighters how one can take over and personal up one other sport the way you’re presupposed to do it,” Diaz mentioned. “As a result of Conor McGregor didn’t know how one can do it, and none of those different fighters know how one can do it, so I’m going to go on the market and I’m going to take over one other group, one other career, and turn into one of the best at that, after which I’m going to be proper again right here to get one other UFC title. It’s one of the best battle on the earth.”
The pay-per-view went off with a number of important modifications made simply sooner or later earlier as a result of Chimaev didn’t come near his contracted weight — after which shrugged and smiled about it on the size. Chimaev, the Chechnya-born Swede thought-about one in all MMA’s high rising abilities, was loudly booed by the group simply off the Las Vegas Strip on battle night time.
As an alternative of eradicating Chimaev or Diaz from the cardboard, the UFC scrambled to make three new matchups for the highest three fights on the present. Diaz and Ferguson had been paired in a battle lengthy coveted by MMA followers however initially rejected by Diaz, whereas Chimaev was matched at a catchweight towards Holland.
Chimaev and Holland already had unhealthy blood from earlier within the week once they fought backstage on the UFC 279 information convention, forcing the occasion’s cancellation.
After a frantic alternate within the opening seconds, Chimaev made fast work of Holland. His burgeoning popularity as a heel solely grew when he was requested about lacking weight within the post-fight interview and responded “I don’t care about (that),” to thunderous boos.
“I’m the black belt right here,” Chimaev added. “I’m Mike Tyson. I’m Muhammad Ali.”
Li Jingliang, who started the week anticipating to face Ferguson, was matched with Daniel Rodriguez, Holland’s scheduled opponent. Rodriguez (17-2) beat Li (19-8) by cut up choice in an uneventful bout by which each fighters had been understandably cautious of their unfamiliar opponent.
Gentle heavyweight Johnny Walker led off the pay-per-view card with a submission of Ion Cuțelaba earlier than Irene Aldana stopped Macy Chiasson with a unprecedented upkick to the physique whereas Aldana was down on the canvas. Aldana drove her heel into Chiasson’s stomach whereas Chiasson was towering over her, ending the battle abruptly.
On the early undercard, heavyweight Chris Barnett stopped Jake Collier within the first spherical with punches. Barnett missed weight for his bout, which was fought at a catchweight.
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