In what could be Nate Diaz’s last lightweight battle, he entered the octagon against Josh “The Punk” Thomson.
The taunting from Diaz began right when the referee told the two men to fight. Thomson switched from orthodox to southpaw with almost every step he took in the first few minutes of the round. He focused on the lead leg of Diaz and continued to batter it. With thirty seconds left in the opening frame Thomson landed a nice little trip takedown and finished with some ground and pound. The two returned to their feet to finish the round.
In between rounds they showed Diaz’s corner and his lead knee was already extremely swollen.
Diaz landed a low blow early in the round and halted action for a minute.Diaz was bloodied up and immediately took Thomson to the mat, upon the two returning to their feet Diaz looked for a guillotine, but Thomson slipped right out. The pace of the action had slowed a little bit with only a minute and a half left in the round. “The Punk” landed a brutal high-kick and followed up with ground and pound to finish the fight.
Josh Thomson def. Nate Diaz by TKO (Strikes) at 3:44 of Round 2
“I play is over and over in my head and honestly, I had myself losing a couple times too. I couldn’t have scripted it any better. I doubted myself a little bit. I was more nervous for this fight than I was for Gilbert. I thought he posed a lot of problems for me from his ground to his reach. There’s nothing like fighting in San Jose. The first round I felt confident in the clinch, but in the second round he got a little better, so it threw me off. My whole game plan was to pick him apart and take what he gives me. I see Nate on TV and the dude looks great. I respect him and Nick. The whole camp. I think the difference for me was mixing it up-punches, kicks, knees, takedowns, elbows. I did something the champ didn’t. I finished him in three. I think I deserve a shot at the title but it’s hard for me to say. I was fighting in UFC before it was cool. I started my career here and I’m so happy that I get to finish it here.”
