Las Vegas, NV — In what is widely expected to be his final UFC fight, at least for the time being, Nate Diaz pocketed a little bonus money.
Diaz fought in a highly entertaining impromptu main event against Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 on Saturday. The fight, put together a day earlier when original Diaz opponent Khamzat Chimaev missed weight, made it two the fourth round, with both men getting some solid shots in. Ferguson chewed up Diaz’s leg; Diaz in turn hurt Ferguson several times on the feet. In the fourth round, Ferguson opted to shoot for a takedown — a key mistake.
Diaz instantly latched on with a guillotine, forcing the tap at 2:09 of round number four — a fitting end to the Stockton, CA fighter’s UFC run (209 happens to be Stockton’s area code).
For his efforts, Diaz was awarded a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. That was one of four Performance bonuses handed out Saturday at UFC 279, in lieu of a Fight of the Night. That might turn some heads, given the scrap Chris Barnett and Jake Collier put on. But instead, the UFC opted to hand out bonuses to Jailton Almeida, Irene Aldana, and Johnny Walker.
Aldana in particular impressed, finishing Macy Chiasson with an upkick, to the body no less, of their 140lb catchweight fight.
