Nate Diaz Drops Guillotine on Tony Ferguson in Makeshift UFC 279 Headliner

Nate Diaz saw the opening and threaded the needle.

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 winner dismissed Tony Ferguson with a guillotine choke in the fourth round of their UFC 279 headliner on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he fulfilled the final bout on his current Ultimate Fighting Championship contract and gazed towards greener pastures. Diaz (21-13, 16-11 UFC), who sounds very much like a man who intends to enter professional boxing at some level, sewed up the submission 2:52 into Round 4.

Ferguson (25-8, 15-5 UFC) was effective in spurts, especially with repeated kicks to his opponent’s legs. Diaz weathered the damage to his lower extremities, uncorked some of his patented multi-punch volleys and stayed competitive as the fight drifted into the fourth round. There, Ferguson moved in for an ill-advised takedown and wandered into the awaiting guillotine. Diaz tightened his grip, brought his hips into play and let his squeeze do the rest.

Winless since June 8, 2019, Ferguson has now suffered five straight defeats.

Unbeaten Chimaev Throttles Holland

Allstars Training Center thoroughbred Khamzat Chimaev kept his perfect professional record intact and did so in spectacular fashion, as he submitted Kevin Holland with a brabo choke in the first round of their catchweight co-main event at 180 pounds. Holland (23-8, 10-5 UFC) bowed out 2:13 into Round 1, his modest two-fight winning streak at an end.

Chimaev (12-0, 6-0 UFC) ducked under a hand tap at the outset and swooped in for a lightning-quick takedown, maintaining a position of dominance through a series of wild scrambles. Holland wandered into the brabo choke and did everything in his power to extricate himself from danger. Chimaev kept his composure, readjusted his grip more than once and eventually drew out the tap.

The undefeated Chimaev has finished eight of his 12 opponents inside one round.

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Surging Rodriguez Edges Li

A persistent jab, occasional counters and sustained output carried Syndicate MMA’s Daniel Rodriguez to a contentious split decision over Jingliang Li in a three-round catchweight attraction at 180 pounds. All three cageside judges scored it 29-28: Michael Bell and Douglas Crosby for Rodriguez, Ron McCarthy for Li.

All three rounds were closely contested. Rodriguez (17-2, 7-1 UFC) focused his attention on the head with intermittent combinations he set up with the jab. Li (19-8, 11-6 UFC), meanwhile, zeroed in on the body and legs with heavy kicks, while mixing in sporadic crosses and overhands to the head. He slowed down in the third round, where Rodriguez continued to unleash his jab, sometimes two and three at a time.

Rodriguez, 35, has won four fights in a row.

Aldana Upkick Stops Chiasson

Lobo Gym standout Irene Aldana cut down “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 28 winner Macy Chiasson with an upkick to the body in the third round of their featured catchweight clash at 140 pounds. Chiasson (8-3, 6-3 UFC) froze and collapsed 2:21 into Round 3.

The 34-year-old Aldana (14-6, 7-4 UFC) handled her business in the first round, where she buckled the Fortis MMA rep with a right hand and cut off an attempted takedown with an armbar that nearly drew the curtain there. Chiasson upped her aggression in the middle stanza and seemed to turn the tide in her favor, as she moved to full mount and battered her opponent with elbows and punches. Aldana withstood the assault but conceded another takedown early in the third round. With Chiasson hovering above her in a standing position, she delivered a brutal heel strike to the liver that short-circuited the New Orleans native and brought their contest to a sudden and unexpected conclusion.

Aldana has rattled off seven wins across her past nine appearances.

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Walker Choke Submits Cutelaba

Former Jungle Fight champion Johnny Walker put away Ion Cutelaba with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their light heavyweight showcase. Walker (19-7, 5-4 UFC) coaxed the tapout 4:37 into Round 1, securing his first victory in nearly two years.

Cutelaba (16-8-1, 5-7-1 UFC) executed a trip takedown and stymied the SBG Ireland-trained Brazilian with top control but did little else to establish his superiority. Walker scrambled out of danger, avoided an armbar and ultimately progressed to the back. He threatened initially with a neck crank, softened Cutelaba with punches and bit down on the choke once the opportunity presented itself. Walker’s squeeze proved too great for the Moldovan to overcome.

The 28-year-old Cutelaba has lost back-to-back bouts, both by submission.

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