UFC 279 LIVE: Diaz vs Ferguson and Chimaev vs Holland fight results tonight
Re-live updates from a drastically-reworked fight card at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena
Nate Diaz exited the UFC with a submission victory on Saturday, beating fellow fan favourite Tony Ferguson in the final fight of his UFC contract.
Diaz had been scheduled to take on the UFC’s fastest-rising star, Khamzat Chimaev, in the main event of UFC 279, but Chimaev weighed in seven-and-a-half pounds over the welterweight limit, causing the card to be drastically reworked. American Diaz ultimately took on compatriot Ferguson, who was originally due to face Li Jingliang. The Chinaman instead fought Daniel Rodriguez, whose original opponent Kevin Holland went up against Chimaev.
Diaz and Chimaev both emerged as submission winners from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with 37-year-old Diaz forcing Ferguson, 38, to tap out to a guillotine choke in the fourth round, after Chimaev had submitted Holland with a D’Arce choke in the co-main event. “I outdid everybody on pay, I outdid everybody on surviving,” Diaz reflected on his UFC career in his post-fight interview. “I wanna get out [of] the UFC for a minute and show all these other fighters how to own up another sport. Then I’m gonna be right back here to get a motherf*****g UFC title.” Re-live updates from UFC 279 below.
UFC 279 LIVE
Diaz vs Ferguson – Round 3
Diaz is chasing Ferguson around the ring now. He takes a moment to shout at the UFC broadcast team, it seems, mocking Ferguson for running away.
Ferguson’s left shin is bleeding badly again. Diaz backs him up and lands a body kick before pointing and laughing at the former interim lightweight champion.
UFC 279 LIVE
Diaz vs Ferguson – Round 3
“Diaz” is the chant in the T-Mobile Arena. Both rounds have been close, but Diaz might have edged them.
A heavy leg kick lands for Ferguson; Diaz is unsteady on his left leg. Now Diaz goes for a walk while shaking his head. Mind games, it seems, or the behaviour of someone who really doesn’t want to be here. Ferguson lays down momentarily. He’s soon back up. A strange sequence...
A right cross lands for Ferguson. Diaz tries for a double-leg takedown but gives up on the attempt.
UFC 279 LIVE
Diaz vs Ferguson – Round 2
Ferguson is now cut around his right eye, too. He steps in with a clean right hook to the body.
Diaz with another effective punch combination. He’s closing down Ferguson now.
Ferguson retaliates with more inside low kicks, and Diaz briefly stands orthodox.
UFC 279 LIVE
Diaz vs Ferguson – Round 2
Ferguson’s team doesn’t appear to have done anything to that cut leg.
Ferguson keeps over-extending, stepping past Diaz and facing away. It’s a habit he’s always had but one that he used to almost correct with spinning attacks. Now, he’s just leaving himself exposed. His team warn him about it.
Ferguson gets an uppercut through. Diaz responds with a one-two.
Body kick from Ferguson, who then kicks low twice.
UFC 279 LIVE
Diaz vs Ferguson – Round 1
Diaz with a one-two, then he points at Ferguson tauntingly! Ferguson tries to fist-bump him, but Diaz slaps his opponent’s hand away.
Diaz just misses with a winging right hook but lands a shorter one. Hard outside leg kick from Ferguson now, thrown with his cut leg as well.
Ferguson tries a spinning back elbow from range, but he’s too far away and Diaz reads it.
A competitive first round.
UFC 279 LIVE
Diaz vs Ferguson – Round 1
Fans have waited years for this fight. Now, in Diaz’s final bout with the UFC – per his current contract – it is happening.
Ferguson catches a kick and pushes Diaz to the mat then lets him stand. Diaz blocks a head kick as he gets back to his feet, then he checks an outside low kick.
Southpaw Diaz with a side kick to the body. Ferguson is pressing forward. His left leg is bleeding badly... Could that be from the check by Diaz?
Ferguson jabs to the body. Diaz tags him with a left hook.
UFC 279 LIVE
Here we go! Five rounds scheduled, how many will we see?
UFC 279 LIVE
Diaz walks out to “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones. His brother Nick, a fan favourite and former UFC title challenger, is with him.
UFC 279 LIVE
Meanwhile, 37-year-old Diaz (20-13) last competed in June 2021, losing to now-welterweight champion Leon Edwards on points.
He has only competed three times in the last six years, winning once before suffering back-to-back losses – the most recent coming against Edwards.
UFC 279 LIVE
Former interim lightweight champion Ferguson won 12 fights in a row in a seven-year unbeaten run from 2013 to 2020, but he has since lost his last four bouts.
The 38-year-old is aiming to get back to winning ways here, as he moves up to welterweight. The American was due to face Li Jingliang but instead takes on compatriot Diaz.
Last time out, Ferguson (25-7) was knocked out by a Michael Chandler front kick in May, a finish regarded as one of the greatest KOs in UFC history.
‘I love this s***’: Tony Ferguson reacts to brutal knockout by Michael Chandler
Ferguson was knocked out cold by a front kick that extended the 38-year-old’s losing streak to four fights
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