Across the entirety of their three round lightweight war at UFC Hamburg, Nasrat Haqparast showed a total disregard for the striking of Marc Diakiese, utterly decimating him.
Opening up the UFC Hamburg main card, the always dangerous Marc Diakiese took on Nasrat Haqparast at lightweight. Despite a 3-2 record in the promotion, Diakiese was in a bit of a pinch, having lost his last two bouts. Germany’s Haqparast, meanwhile, had dropped his promotional debut to Marcin Held at UFC Fight Night 118 last October.
The crowd was hot for this battle of dangerous 155lb fighters. Diakiese got his creative striking going early, throwing out a spinning attack. Lots of power behind his punches, but Haqparast closed the distance and was more than happy to bring the fight early. As the round progressed Haqparast countered a Diakese attack with a flurry of strikes punctuated with a knee. Diakese attempted to return the favor, but Haqparast unloaded with his hands again, keeping Marc Diakiese at bay. Late in the round, Diakiese would catch Haqparast with a left, but he shook it off.
HEAVY strikes from @Nasrat_MMA at #UFCHamburg pic.twitter.com/SHNLKW4kal
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) July 22, 2018
The second round saw action stall early due to an accidental eye poke. Once they were back underway, Haqparast stalked Diakiese, backing him up, using angles, and occasionally attacking Diakiese’s lead leg. Diakiese fired back with an uppercut, but as the round wore down, Haqparast, ever patient, made his move. He floored Diakiese, and moved in, dropping hammer fists on his fallen foe! It looked close to being stopped, but time ran out. Diakiese had just barely survived.
In round three, Nasrat Haqparast looked to pick up where he left off. Diakiese seemed to have recovered, throwing up a kick, but he was soon under siege again. Haqparast was continually moving forward. Diakiese changed levels, thinking takedown, only to be dumped on his back. He sprung up, but moments later Haqparast was landing on him. They went to the ground with Haqparast looking to take the back. Diakiese’s nose was bloodied, his eye swollen. Haqparast continued to walk forward. A leg kick by Haqparast tripped up Diakiese. Diakiese answered back with a kick to the body. Yet his striking, so effective in the past, was simply brushed off by Haqparast. Zero surprises when the scorecards were read.
Nasrat Haqparast def. Marc Diakiese by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
