UFC FIGHT NIGHT 20: Maynard vs Diaz Recap
"UFC Fight Night" made Monday night and entertaining one in Fairfax, VA and Spike TV
With a packed house at George Mason University’s Patriot Center in Fairfax Virginia and an 11 bout card, the UFC made Monday night fair for fight. Familiar faces from The Ultimate Fighter seasons past stocked the lineup and a win by Season 7 Ultimate Fighter champ Virginia native son Amir Sodallah pumped up the crowd. Finishing the festivities, Gray Maynard and Nathan Diaz locked up for fight 2 post TUF 5 in the lightweight division. Sporting his usual Stockton bad boy pre-fight scowl Nate Diaz hyped the main event stating, “I can still take him” referring to Gray “The Bully” Maynard. Maynard pounded away at the pads backstage grim, focused and furious. Huge doses of smack talk and taunts were traded between the fighters leading up to their second clash on Monday.
Maynard vs Diaz - Round 1:
Bad boy Diaz stalked Maynard around the octagon pawing the air and slinging looping hooks, Maynard looked for the counter launching loaded overhand rights. Early on it was also apparent that Nate Diaz was looking to clinch and set up a takedown. Moving around the cage midway through the round the two combatants postured and taunted the other to throw their best shot. Maynard sports a cut near his right eye at the end of a very evenly matched round.
Maynard vs Diaz - Round 2:
Gray Maynard continued to hold his hands really low perhaps to unnerve Diaz, but also manages to score with winging right hands. Nate Diaz ducks under many of the Bully’s haymakers dangerously exposing his chin. In round 2 Diaz’s quest for a takedown is more aggressive but Maynard shrugs him off and continues to counter with hard body shots and right hands over the top. Call Round 2 10-8 for Gray Maynard.
Maynard vs Diaz - Round 3:
Going into round 3 the fight was very close. Nate Diaz finally begins to fight like the taller fighter standing to his full 6’0” and utilizing his 76” reach find the mark and turning Maynard’s face crimson. The Bully answered dodging and slipping and getting inside scoring with his own shots. Surprisingly a fight between two superb grapplers turned into a chest out chin up hard sparring war for three rounds. Neither fighter was hurt, no knockdowns or near TKO’s just a hard game of tag.
> Check out theofficial UFC Fight Night 20 results and the UFC 109 results for the big February 6 event!
Maynard vs Diaz - The Decision:
The judge’s cards read 29-28 Diaz, 30-27 Maynard, 29-28 Maynard earning “The Bully” the win via split decision, the Virginia crowd booed. Monday’s matchup evened the score between the two lightweights but still left some unanswered questions. Gray Maynard edged closer to a possible match-up with B. J. Penn but did not really sell himself as next in line to the throne. Maynard has the tools and the heart but if he faces Penn he needs to maintain his composure and seriously utilize his skills. He cannot afford to lower his hands and play tag against a dangerous striker the likes of B.J. Penn.
Nate Diaz was one good takedown or submission attempt from winning Monday night but failed to make his mat game a factor. Lately he’s lost too many close fights…so where does he go from here, back to Gracie academy for a tuneup? Interestingly, Cesar Gracie and big brother Nick Diaz were absent on Monday night? If the younger Diaz is going to box for three rounds then he needs to box like a tall fighter making shorter fighters strain to reach him. For now Nate is precariously back on the UFC carousel in a loaded lightweight category, and if he is to stay on he needs a win his next fight.
By Darrell Howard
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer