Nate Diaz teases as he leaves, whereas Khamzat Chimaev should wrestle with the UFC and his future

What can we take away from a novel predominant occasion at UFC 279 and victories from Nate Diaz and Khamzat Chimaev? Jeff Wagenheim, Marc Raimondi and Brett Okamoto provide up their ideas from a highlight-packed occasion in Las Vegas.

The implication behind the time period “Plan B” is that it is a lesser choice than the course initially plotted out. However UFC 279 ended up higher off for the musical chairs that at some point earlier than battle night time rearranged the highest three fights on Saturday’s predominant card.

Nate Diaz was unquestionably the Las Vegas occasion’s high star, however with him poised to exit the UFC after this bout, the promotion did him soiled — a “punishment,” in Diaz’s words — by reserving him in a battle whose clear function was to, at Diaz’s expense, brighten the star energy of undefeated wrecking machine Khamzat Chimaev.

However when Chimaev shrunk underneath the warmth of his greatest profession highlight — triggering a backstage brawl on Thursday, then missing weight on Friday — the UFC reshuffled the deck and ended up with a predominant occasion pitting Diaz in opposition to Tony Ferguson.

It was a matchup of two fighters at basically the identical level of their careers. Diaz, 37, got here in having misplaced three of his final 4 fights, with only a single victory since 2016. Ferguson, 38, had misplaced 4 straight. This was extra acceptable matchmaking than sticking Diaz within the cage with an at-his-peak Chimaev, who ended up mauling Kevin Holland within the co-main occasion with boos cascading down from all corners of T-Mobile Arena.

The brand new predominant occasion, then again, had the constructing electrical with followers roaring from the get-go, a lot as MMA diehards had been expressing love for the reformulated matchup on social media ever since Diaz vs. Ferguson was set on Friday. These two fighters have all the time been unpredictable, awkward and inimitable. What joint bizarreness would they bring about to the cage?

The battle actually lived as much as all expectations on that be aware. Each fighters turned their backs to their opponent at numerous instances; when Diaz did it in Spherical 3, it appeared for a second that we would have a “No mas” state of affairs on our arms. However then the combating resumed, and there have been moments when every man pointed on the different with a smile on their face. Truly, that brings up the one factor that was lacking on this night time: Due to the mutual respect, we noticed none of Diaz’s ordinary mean-mugging.

However Diaz did his ordinary stalking, and Ferguson utilized the unorthodox methods for which he is identified. The fighters’ respect for one another’s expertise stored the bout transferring at a measured tempo, regular however removed from frenetic. As weird as issues bought, there was no chaos within the fisticuffs. Diaz was sharper together with his punches, opening a nasty lower close to Ferguson’s proper eye. And Ferguson’s relentless decrease leg kicks left Diaz’s leg bruised up and compromised.

These accidents finally added some extent of urgency for 2 males in peril of not making it to the end line. So in Spherical 4, as Ferguson got here ahead, Diaz grabbed his neck and took the battle to the canvas, the place he shortly completed Ferguson with a guillotine choke at 2:52.

Afterward, Diaz reiterated his respect for Ferguson, calling him “a worthy, OG consultant of combined martial arts.”

Then Diaz spoke of a future past MMA, saying he deliberate to take over different sports activities, together with boxing. “Conor McGregor did not know how one can do it,” Diaz mentioned. “None of those different [MMA] fighters know how one can do it. I am gonna go on the market, I am gonna take over one other occupation and turn into the perfect at that … After which I am gonna come proper the f–k again right here to get a mother—ing UFC title.”

That needed to sound good to UFC officers, who’ve reaped huge monetary rewards from Diaz’s capacity to attach with followers and do what UFC president Dana White famously mentioned Diaz couldn’t do: transfer the needle in pay-per-view gross sales.

However followers certainly will not be sitting again and ready for Diaz to reappear within the Octagon. In large numbers, they are going to be following him wherever he finally ends up subsequent. I do know I shall be.

What’s subsequent for Khamzat Chimaev?

A severe speak between him and his workforce … and the UFC.

Chimaev may need prolonged his unbeaten streak this week, however this was a loss for his profession. The UFC teed him up as a fighter’s dream at UFC 279, and he flipped them the chicken, if I am being trustworthy. You’ve got bought a predominant occasion battle in opposition to probably the most fashionable fighters within the sport, in a matchup the place you’re a vital favourite, and also you miss weight? Making weight shouldn’t be enjoyable, and Chimaev cuts a variety of weight to make 170 kilos, however that is nonetheless inexcusable.

The UFC is not comfortable about it, nor ought to his workforce be comfortable. Chimaev has proven arguably extra potential early on in his profession than any fighter within the historical past of this sport, however if you cannot make weight for this spot — it is a concern.

If he stays at welterweight, as he mentioned he would do — together with middleweight — after the battle, count on the UFC to watch his weight the following time. The matchup for him is Colby Covington. It makes all of the sense on this planet, and Covington is in the perfect place to check him. Nice cardio and robust wrestling. And the power to get one emotional, do not forget that.

If Chimaev goes to middleweight, the apparent matchup is Paulo Costa, who he has warmth with. My private choice is Costa at middleweight, however both is nice.

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Enterprise is about to select up: The rise of the uber-villain Chimaev

Chimaev did nearly all the things unsuitable this week. He practically bought right into a bodily altercation with Costa on the UFC Efficiency Institute. He did get right into a bodily altercation with Holland backstage at what ended up being a canceled press convention. Then, the Chechnyan fighter blew weight by 7.5 kilos and misplaced his shot at a predominant occasion showcase in opposition to the wildly fashionable Nate Diaz. And but, in spite of everything that, there’s little doubt that the UFC has one thing in Chimaev. One thing that could possibly be very large.

Chimaev completely ran over Holland in a rapidly put collectively co-main occasion Saturday night time. Then, in his postfight interview with Joe Rogan, he went full heel, seemingly relishing within the hearty boos being heaped on him by the Las Vegas crowd. Chimaev was defiant concerning the weight miss and screamed that he was going to take out the entire UFC’s fighters.

The reality is, there could possibly be some huge cash on this for the UFC — Chimaev because the terrifying monster villain taking out the entire UFC’s fan favorites, like Holland. He completely has the talents to do it. And this week, he turned in opposition to the followers in what resulted in nearly a pro-wrestling-like response Saturday night time at T-Cellular Enviornment.

Villains promote. Simply ask Muhammad Ali, whom Chimaev inexplicably referenced in his unhinged interview. Followers can pay their hard-earned cash to see fighter after fighter come into the Octagon in an try and beat a seemingly invulnerable Chimaev. It is compelling stuff. Like a real-life, bearded Drago.

Perhaps this wasn’t such a nasty week for Chimaev in spite of everything.

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Johnny Walker with the massive win … and an enormous mistake

Johnny Walker was once a wildman, entertaining followers together with his flying, spinning assaults. However after profitable his first three fights contained in the Octagon with first-round finishes, he met his match in a knockout loss to Corey Anderson in November 2019. What adopted had been losses in three of his subsequent 4 bouts.

The Brazilian wanted to alter one thing. The Walker who confirmed up at UFC 279 was extra disciplined, affected person and well-rounded. He confirmed off the final of these attributes to complete Ion Cutelaba within the first spherical. Walker scored knockouts in 15 of his first 18 victories, however on this battle, he took his opponent to the canvas and methodically labored his method to a rear-naked choke submission.

If there was a lapse in Walker’s cage IQ, it got here in his postfight celebration, by which he lay prostrate on the canvas and danced the worm. Why did this take away the Worst Celebration of the Evening award from heavyweight Chris Barnett’s Richter scale-triggering front flip onto his derrière earlier within the night? As a result of when Walker carried out the worm to have a good time a victory again in 2019, he dislocated his shoulder and required surgery. C’mon, Johnny, what had been you pondering going again to that dance? — Wagenheim

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The information, stats and miscellany of UFC 279

Las Vegas witnessed extra than simply Diaz end out his contract with Dana White’s promotion, because the UFC 279 battle card grew to become unprecedented with the chaos that ensued in simply making the cardboard occur. Per ESPN’s Stats and Info, listed here are some fascinating tidbits from Saturday’s motion:

• On account of so many fighters lacking weight, the 4 “catchweight” bouts are essentially the most on any battle card in UFC historical past.

• The six fights on one card with at the least one fighter lacking weight are additionally essentially the most in UFC historical past.

In the principle occasion, Nate Diaz placed on one last efficiency for the ages, as his duel with Tony Ferguson was a fun-filled 4 rounds of chaotic fight.

• Nate Diaz’s final 3 submission victories have been in opposition to Tony Ferguson, Conor McGregor and Jim Miller.

• Diaz joins unique firm as he is now 10-0 with double-digit submission victories and nil losses by submission. Demian Maia (11-0) and Royce Gracie (10-0) are the opposite members of the membership.

• Till Saturday’s defeat to Diaz, Ferguson had by no means been submitted within the UFC and final was submitted in an MMA bout in 2009 in opposition to Jamie Toney through triangle choke.

Khamzat Chimaev, who missed weight badly for his weigh-in by 7.5 kilos, ended up in a matchup versus Kevin Holland. Chimaev’s overwhelming wrestling capacity made for fast work within the Octagon on Saturday.

• That is Chimaev’s fourth UFC win with out absorbing vital strike in a battle, tying Anthony Johnson for many such wins in UFC historical past.

• Neither fighter landed a single vital strike.

• Chimaev joins Tom Aspinall as the one UFC fighters with 4 first-round finishes since 2020.

• Chimaev discovered victory through D’Arce choke on Saturday, the second time he is used the submission maneuver to win. Chimaev joins a tiny group of Vicente Luque (4), Tony Ferguson (3), Dustin Poirier (2) and Julian Erosa (2) as the one UFC fighters with a number of D’Arce Choke submissions.

In case you had been selecting underdogs, tonight was your night time.

• That is the tenth pay-per-view card of the 12 months. The seven upsets at UFC 279 are essentially the most on any PPV card this 12 months, topping UFC 274, headlined by Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje.