Sure to be a hard-fought battle, Nate Diaz and hometown favorite Marcus Davis kicked the main card off at UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2.
With a reach advantage and a more developed ground game, Diaz looked to be the favorite in this battle. But Davis’ boxing technique and power always make him a threat, and in front of his home crowd, it would be insane to count Davis out in this one.
Who won? The result follows:
Nate Diaz b. Marcus Davis via submission (guillotine) at 4:02 of Round Three
*Story of the fight: Diaz’s reach was just too much for Davis, especially as a brutal cut continued wreaking havoc on Marcus Davis’ face. Davis responded to some early “Diaz taunting” with a big flurry in round one, but Diaz survived. From there, he used his reach advantage to keep Davis at bay, far and away landing the more effective strikes. In round three, Diaz took Davis down and worked to a choke. After ample confirmation from referee Yves Lavigne, it was determined that Davis went to sleep, and the fight was stopped.
Photos showing the cut Davis suffered are absolutely brutal–Diaz’s reach advantage was a big factor here, but the magnitude of his success on the feet can further be attributed to the vision issues associated with all of the blood and swelling.
