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
Dawodu vs Erosa – Round 3
Erosa with a knee up the middle in close, then a right hook. He tries for a double-leg takedown and gets it against the fence, before immediately taking the back and securing a body triangle. One minute left in the fight.
Erosa is close to locking in a rear naked choke but can’t quite get it, so again he opts to punch Dawodu.
Dawodu slips free and stands late in the round, but he’ll be headed for a decision defeat here...
UFC 279 LIVE
Dawodu vs Erosa – Round 3
Dawodu stalks Erosa, who is taking no unnecessary risks so far.
Front kick connects to the body of Erosa. Dawodu kicks low then appears to catch Erosa on the end of a right cross.
Erosa sneaks in an uppercut to the chin of Dawodu, however, as the Canadian comes forward.
Dawodu backs Erosa up against the fence then buries a left hook into his opponent’s ribs. Erosa with a flurry up top.
UFC 279 LIVE
Dawodu’s cornerman is honest and tells him that he needs a finish.
UFC 279 LIVE
Dawodu vs Erosa – Round 2
Erosa rolls under a punch and shoots for a double-leg takedown, which he completes against the fence.
Dawodu stands, and Erosa jumps onto his back. Dawodu hits the mat again and looks to fight his opponent’s hands.
Erosa momentarily looks to have a rear naked choke in, but he hasn’t quite got the grip tight enough.
He opts to punch Dawodu instead, but the Canadian does well to stand late in the round.
UFC 279 LIVE
Dawodu vs Erosa – Round 2
Dawodu tries to get behind his jab here. He adds a right straight that connects to the head of Erosa.
Erosa just misses with a front kick to the head; Dawodu responds with a successful front kick to the body.
Lancing jab lands for Dawodu, before Erosa misses with a left hook.
UFC 279 LIVE
Dawodu vs Erosa – Round 1
Dawodu is quick to stand. More success for Erosa with uppercuts in close, before he sees a takedown attempt stuffed.
Dawodu tries for a head kick, but Erosa just about blocks it before taunting his opponent.
Erosa then stuns Dawodu with a right hand, then lands a flying knee as the Canadian backs up to the fence!
The buzzer comes at just the right time for Dawodu!
UFC 279 LIVE
Dawodu vs Erosa – Round 1
Jumping switch front kick to the body by Dawodu. Erosa kicks low, then Dawodu responds in kind.
Again Dawodu lunges into a body kick, but this time he misses. Erosa then catches a body kick attempt and forces Dawodu back to the fence, but the Canadian escapes.
Good head movement from Dawodu in close, but Erosa clinches him and gets some uppercuts through, then lands more punches off the break and drops Dawodu!
UFC 279 LIVE
Final prelim bout of the evening, we’re under way.
UFC 279 LIVE
Dawodu came in at 149.5lbs, missing the featherweight limit by 3.5lbs, meaning a percentage of his purse will go to Erosa.
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