Considering the fact that Gray Maynard and Nate Diaz had met twice before, splitting those bouts in 2007 and 2010, respectively, it only made sense for the two lightweights to have one more go of it. That happened in the main event of tonight's (Sat., Nov. 30, 2013) The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 18 Finale at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
There couldn't have been a more definitive finish.
That's because Diaz brought his big boy gloves and let them go with reckless abandon. He had to survive an early rush from "The Bully," who missed on his trademark leaping left hook and couldn't do anything with a follow up takedown.
A quick throw, Stockton style, forced a reset and once Diaz got the chance to let his hands go, that's exactly what he did. Actually, he landed probably 20 punches too many before referee Yves Lavigne stepped in to stop the fight.
Maynard managed to stay on his feet during the onslaught but he was clearly out of it and needing to be saved from taking further damage. He didn't actually fall down until after the stoppage while he was trying to walk away.
Here's a Vine of the finish, courtesy of UFC:
WOW!!! @natediaz209 with the HUGE TKO victory!!! https://t.co/q6a9x39WRg
— UFC (@ufc) December 1, 2013
For more on "Maynard vs. Diaz" click here, and for complete TUF 18 Finale results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.