FreaknDavid

Nate Diaz closes the book on Gray Maynard rivalry with 1st round knockout:



LAS VEGAS – Gray Maynard wanted to get the fight to the canvas, and it was pretty evident why.

Nate Diaz got back to his feet after a first-round Maynard takedown, then started teeing off on his way to a TKO victory after landing dozens of unanswered punches.

The lightweight bout was the main event of today’s TUF 18 Finale event at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. It aired on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and MMAjunkie.

Diaz fired off his jab early, but 30 seconds in, Maynard dropped low for a single-leg takedown and got it. He pushed Diaz to the fence, but Diaz got back to his feet. There, he was able to land a throw on Maynard, but wasn’t able to take advantage of it.

Cut above his left eye, Maynard tried to get inside again for another takedown. But it was Diaz who landed a left hand that wobbled Maynard. Diaz then started teeing off.

Maynard looked to be out on his feet against the cage, but wouldn’t go down. So Diaz kept lighting him up. And lighting him up. And lighting him up. Finally, mercifully, referee Yves Lavigne stepped in to stop the fight – with Maynard still standing. But bloodied up, seconds later, he collapsed to his knees on the canvas.

The end came at the 2:38 mark of the first round, but probably could have come sooner.

But after the fight, Diaz only wanted to talk about teammate Gilbert Melendez, the former Strikeforce lightweight champion and recent UFC title challenger against then-champ Benson Henderson.

“The No. 1 and 2 lightweights in the world are right here, me and my man right here,” Diaz said before bringing Melendez over. “My man beat Ben Henderson for the title, and for some reason they left Anthony Pettis by himself. You and (Josh) Thomson need to man up and get with my boy right here, because this is our division.”

That may have quelled talk that Diaz would move from lightweight back to welterweight after the fight. But Diaz had precious little to say about his own victory: “I won. That’s what’s up.”

Diaz (17-9 MMA, 12-7 UFC) snapped a two-fight losing skid and won by knockout for the first time a win over Rory Markham at UFC 111 in May 2010. Maynard (11-3-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) lost for the second straight time, and third time in four fights by knockout.

Video Highlights Of The Fight:

Fight Card Results:

Nate Diaz def. Gray Maynard via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:38

Julianna Pena def. Jessica Rakoczy via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 4:59

Chris Holdsworth def. Davey Grant via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:10

Jessamyn Duke def. Peggy Morgan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Raquel Pennington def. Roxanne Modafferi via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Akira Corassani def. Maximo Blanco via disqualification (illegal knee) – Round 1, 0:25

Tom Niinimaki def. Rani Yahya via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

Jared Rosholt def. Walter Harris via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Sean Spencer def. Drew Dober via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Joshua Sampo def. Ryan Benoit via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:31

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FreaknDavid

Fight Night TUF-18 Final Finale bonuses: Ryan Benoit nabs $100K thanks to Sampo missing weight





LAS VEGAS – Nate Diaz and Chris Holdsworth each earned $50,000 bonuses for their performances at Saturday’s TUF 18 Finale event, but it was Ryan Benoit, in a losing effort, who will take home $100,000.

Diaz earned the “Knockout of the Night,” Holdsworth won “Submission of the Night” and Benoit picked up “Fight of the Night” honors for his loss to Joshua Sampo. But because Sampo failed to make weight on Friday, the UFC elected to give Sampo’s $50,000 portion to Benoit, instead.

UFC President Dana White announced the winners at the night’s post-event news conference, which MMAjunkie attended.

It was a big night for Holdsworth, who won an “Ultimate Fighter” title, as well – and the guaranteed UFC contract and Harley-Davidson motorcycle that comes with that crown.

Diaz (17-9 MMA, 12-7 UFC) absolutely lit up Gray Maynard (11-3-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) in their main-event fight. After being taken down, Diaz got back to his feet, and his domination started with a left hand that wobbled Maynard. He then continued to pour it on, landing dozens of crisp punches before referee Yves Lavigne finally stepped in.

Holdsworth (5-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) got a little extra after winning the Season 18 “Ultimate Fighter” men’s crown. His second-round rear-naked choke of Davey Grant (8-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) got him a motorcycle from Harley-Davidson, it got him a UFC deal, and it got him a $50,000 bonus.

Sampo (11-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) engaged in a fun back-and-forth with fellow UFC debutante Benoit (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) for nearly two full rounds before catching him with a rear-naked choke late in the second of the night’s first fight. Right out of the gate, Sampo was ineligible for the “Submission of the Night” award – which held up until Holdsworth’s submission midway through the main card. Had he made weight, he certainly would’ve been in the running for a pair of awards, and would’ve gotten

The TUF 18 Finale took place at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The main card aired on FOX Sports 1 following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and MMAjunkie.

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