TUF 18 Finale Results: Nate Diaz Pulverizes Gray Maynard in First-Round Stoppage
Nate Diaz defeated Gray Maynard by technical knockout in the main event of the TUF 18 Finale on Saturday night.
Diaz swarmed in on Maynard early in the fight, earning the stoppage at the 2:38 mark of the first round of their Las Vegas fight.
“I won, that’s what’s up,” Diaz said in his post-fight interview.
Maynard scored the early takedown, working to pass the guard thereafter. The two fighters scrambled and ultimately returned to the feet where it would soon end.
Diaz landed a left hand that dazed Maynard, and then he started to pour on the offense after that. Diaz landed punch after punch, pulverizing Maynard against the cage.
Following numerous strikes to Maynard’s head, referee Yves Lavigne put at stop to the contest, awarding Diaz a TKO stoppage.
Diaz repeatedly praised his teammates, including his brother Nick Diaz and longtime friend Gilbert Melendez, in his post-fight interview. When asked if he was going to move up to 170 pounds, Diaz proclaimed that he and Melendez were the two best in the lightweight division, calling out fellow 155-pound contender Josh Thomson in the process.
“We gonna beat your ass,” Diaz said.
With the win, Diaz improves his overall record to 17-9. Maynard drops to 11-3-1, 1 NC.
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