Even Dillon Danis had to show respect after Nate Diaz’s masterful return performance at UFC 241, which saw him dismantle Anthony Pettis round-by-round.
Nate Diaz returned to action after a three year sabbatical on Saturday night at UFC 241. The Stockton, CA native, a fan favorite, last fought in a rematch with Conor McGregor back in 2016. During that time, the McGregor era had more or less petered out. Khabib Nurmagomedov had risen to the very pinnacle of the lightweight division. And former 155lb champ Anthony Pettis had made the move to welterweight, knocking out Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson in his 170lb debut.
After taking the McGregor fights at welterweight, Diaz returned to the division Saturday. It was anyone’s guess as to what to expect with his return. It wouldn’t have surprised anyone to see the fight fall through at the last minute. But there, finally, was Diaz, in the octagon, mean-mugging and tapping his chin ahead of the bout.
The bout wasn’t exactly what anyone expected. Diaz simply overwhelmed Pettis. On the feet, on the ground, he slowly chipped away. It was competitive, but Diaz looked stunningly good for a fighter away for three years. A unanimous decision win for Nate Diaz resulted on the scorecards.
See the pros react to the return of Nate Diaz at UFC 241 below!
Weed or Wheaties
Weed or Wheaties, who y’all got?
— Rampage Jackson (@Rampage4real) August 18, 2019
Here we go! @Showtimepettis @NateDiaz209
— Krzysztof Soszynski (@KSOSufc) August 18, 2019
Badass 🙌🏾 https://t.co/Ebq7ijqgJw
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) August 18, 2019
Anymore questions about Diaz’ hiatus?? I didn’t think so!#UFC241
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) August 18, 2019
Very good jiu Jitsu exchanges tonight ! #ufc241
— Dennis Bermudez (@MenaceBermudez) August 18, 2019
Pressure pressure pressure. Relentless pressure sucks! @NateDiaz209!
— Krzysztof Soszynski (@KSOSufc) August 18, 2019
Nate gets my hyped up.
— Chris Wade (@CWadeMMA) August 18, 2019
Anyone head from Funky?
Pettis is ready to go. Wonder what @Benaskren thinks of the fight so far🤣#GutCheckTime #UFC241 @MMAFighting @MMAjunkie @espnmma
— Arjan Singh Bhullar (@TheOneASB) August 18, 2019
Pettis needs to get off that damn cage #ufc241
— Max Griffin (@MaxPainGriffin) August 18, 2019
Holy shit this card #ufc241 is crazy showtime needs a finish
— Truck Gordon (@TruckMMA_UFC) August 18, 2019
DIAZ IS GOING OFF!#UFC241 pic.twitter.com/BxawfsNBnp
— UFC (@ufc) August 18, 2019
Wow #ufc241
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) August 18, 2019
Nate with the ⛽️ tank #UFC241
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) August 18, 2019
Respect where it’s due
i know i have had my beef with Nate Diaz but you gotta give respect where it’s due that was a masterful performance.
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) August 18, 2019
— Alex Chambers (@alexchambersmma) August 18, 2019
What a fight! Been a great night of fights so far
— Luis Antonio Pena (@violentbobross) August 18, 2019
Nate Diaz 🙌🏼 W https://t.co/vGAbgFMwOt
— KailinCurranAsing (@KailinCurran) August 18, 2019
What a fight. Congrats to you both!! @NateDiaz209 @Showtimepettis #ufc241
— Max Griffin (@MaxPainGriffin) August 18, 2019
What a fight !!! #diazpettis #ufc241 #fotn
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) August 18, 2019
What a fight 🔥
— Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) August 18, 2019
Fuck yeah Nate!!! #UFC241
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) August 18, 2019
You looked like a gassed out old man @Showtimepettis. Let me welcome you back to 155lbs. @seanshelby let me show him what the next level of striking is 😉 @AliAbdelaziz00 @danawhite @UFCEurope @ufc
— Nasrat Haqparast (@Nasrat_mma) August 18, 2019
Diaz looked like Diaz. Pettis could never make his kicks a factor and he wasn’t going to out-box or grapple Nate. If you can’t make your feet or your takedown a factor you will lose 9 times out of 10 to a Diaz.
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) August 18, 2019
He called out Masvidal. Sorry Leon, we need that one!
I’m for that fight 100 percent. Masvidal vs Diaz 🙏🏽 #UFC241
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) August 18, 2019
@NateDiaz209 calling out #streetjesus @GamebredFighter pic.twitter.com/YyIdJ61qwy
— Julio Arce (@JArceTSMMA) August 18, 2019
Congrats to my man @natediaz209
He is the new gangster
Passing the torch @sonnench@ufc repost “He’s a gangster, but he aint no west coast gangster.” @NateDiaz209 calls for Masvidal 😳 #ufc241stream pic.twitter.com/oNotWKMJig— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) August 18, 2019
