Nate Diaz (Credits: MMA Fighting)
Nate Diaz and Leon Edwards fought it out in one of the most entertaining matches in recent times
Diaz and Edwards went the long way at the recently concluded UFC 263. The fight which saw Edwards win via. unanimous decision had one of the most exciting endings ever seen inside the Octagon.
After having dominated Diaz for 24 minutes of the fight, Edwards expected to see off the last minute with ease.
However, the unpredictable ‘Stockton Slugger’ had different plans. Despite being bloodied and gassed out, Diaz caught Edwards with a clean left hook that had him wobbling, almost sending him careening towards the cage.
Had Diaz had another minute, he would have finished Edwards, such was the state of the Brit when he was saved by the bell.
In the latest episode of DC & Helwani show, Ariel Helwani explained why Diaz is loved and would always be a fan favourite.
“Those 60 seconds are why Nathan Diaz is the legend that he is. No matter what, no matter the circumstances, no matter the cut, the blood, all that stuff, no matter the fact that he was losing 24 minutes of that fight, he is able to win people over like that.”
Leon Edwards has nine wins in a row now. He hasn’t lost a fight since his loss to the Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in December 2015 (who was then making his debut).
Had he not been rocked in the last minute against Diaz, a fight against Usman would have been on, straightaway. Due to his tense last minute, Usman told Brett Okamoto of ESPN following the fight:
“That don’t help you. I guess no one deserves it.”
With all said and done, a win is a win, and Edwards surely has earned it. It will do him justice only if he gets a title shot.
Follow our dedicated UFC page for instant UFC news and updates
