Nate Diaz shined through adversity again on Saturday when he defeated Tony Ferguson in their short-notice UFC 279 main event matchup.
In the highly-publicized final fight on his current UFC contract, Diaz (21-13 MMA, 16-11 UFC) added another greatest hit to his legendary resume when he toppled former interim UFC champ Ferguson (25-8 MMA, 15-6 UFC) by fourth-round submission in the welterweight bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Diaz was originally scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of the card, but when Chimaev missed weight by 7.5 pounds, the card was shuffled and he ended up fighting Ferguson instead.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Diaz’s victory over Chimaev at UFC 279.
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MMA Junkie
It's time! Nate Diaz's potential final UFC fight is moments away as he takes on Tony Ferguson in the #UFC279 headliner.
Play-by-play: https://t.co/tYqEufrGC3 pic.twitter.com/XfVugPEw3q
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 11, 2022
Nick Kalikas
#UFC279 Main Event Closing Betting Odds via @CircaSports
Tony Ferguson -160
Nate Diaz +140@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) September 11, 2022
UFC
EL CUCUY 😎 #UFC279 pic.twitter.com/MlCqAuUwJn
— UFC (@ufc) September 11, 2022
UFC
There's only one @NateDiaz209 #UFC279 pic.twitter.com/gzWcYA2VUk
— UFC (@ufc) September 11, 2022
Michael Chiesa
Nate’s walkout mix is money. #UFC279
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) September 11, 2022
UFC
The wild ride that is #UFC279 concludes now!
Play-by-play: https://t.co/tYqEufrGC3 pic.twitter.com/Ltfmtk5ldB
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 11, 2022
Aljamain Sterling
MAIN EVENT!!! #UFC279
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 11, 2022
Henry Cejudo
Nothing like a Nate Diaz fight. There's a reason he gets the big fights 👏 #UFC279
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 11, 2022
Francis Ngannou
Let's gooooo 🔥 🔥 🔥
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) September 11, 2022
Alexander Volkanovski
So pumped for this!! #ufc279 at the barn…let’s gooo 🙌🏼
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) September 11, 2022
Belal Muhammad
Oh we spinning now
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 11, 2022
Mookie Alexander
Nate Diaz checks a kick for the first time ever and it gashes Tony's leg.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) September 11, 2022
Kevin Iole
Ferguson throwing a lot of kicks
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) September 11, 2022
Kay Hansen
Tony is one of a kind for sure 😂 #ufc279
— Kay Hansen (@KayHansenMMA) September 11, 2022
Derek Brunson
This fight has that Chandler / Ferguson vibes . Ferguson was doing well then got wild , clipped , game over ! 😱 #UFC279
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 11, 2022
Mike Pierce
Seriously, what's going on with the shin? #UFC279
— Mike Pierce (@MikePierce170) September 11, 2022
Alan Jouban
Tony can get him with the spinning back fist. #UFC279
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 11, 2022
Chris Clements
So far this Diaz vs Furguson looks like 2 drunk guys outside a bar that don’t know how to fight #UFC279
— Chris Clements (@menaceclements) September 11, 2022
Ryan Clark
That was such an odd round to watch.
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) September 11, 2022
Teddy Atlas
Both showing their respect and experience, round to Diaz #UFC279
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) September 11, 2022
Nick Kalikas
#UFC279 LIVE In-Game Wagering Odds After Round-1 via @CircaSports
Tony Ferguson -130
Nate Diaz +100@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) September 11, 2022
Yves Edwards
I saw that commissioner escorting Nathan to his corner and in my head I heard “right this way mister Diaz.” 😅
— The Thugjitsu Master (@thugjitsumaster) September 11, 2022
Alan Jouban
Well it didn’t start pretty
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 11, 2022
Andreas Hale
Diaz starts the second with a combination and a leg kick. Left hand and a body kick from Diaz. Uppercut from Ferguson lands. Short left from Diaz behind a body kick. Right hand from Diaz. Ferguson can't seem to land much but he's trying.
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) September 11, 2022
Kevin Iole
Hard right by Nate. He's picking Tony apart now
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) September 11, 2022
Farah Hannoun
Who would have thought Ferguson would bleed first? 🩸 #UFC279
— Farah Hannoun (@Farah_Hannoun) September 11, 2022
Luke Thomas
We're through 2 rounds and it's Ferguson who is bleeding while Diaz is not. Go figure.
19-19 through two on my scorecard.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) September 11, 2022
Nick Kalikas
#UFC279 LIVE In-Game Wagering Odds After Round-2 via @CircaSports
Tony Ferguson +160
Nate Diaz -205@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) September 11, 2022
Chris Curtis
I don't even care who wins. Lol this is just fun. #UFC279
— Chris Curtis The Action Man (@Actionman513) September 11, 2022
Alan Jouban
Tony used to harden his shins and elbows with pipes when I train with him. He doesn’t mind the shin on shin. #UFC279
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 11, 2022
UFC
OGs of the fight game! #UFC279 pic.twitter.com/4pqOSAcqE0
— UFC (@ufc) September 11, 2022
Dann Stupp
The crazy train just pulled into the station.
— Dann Stupp (@DannStupp) September 11, 2022
Jimi Manuwa
Ferguson hurting him with those low kicks #ufc279
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) September 11, 2022
UFC
Nate being Nate 🤣 #UFC279 pic.twitter.com/JXNdDcBKaf
— UFC (@ufc) September 11, 2022
MS
Why are people shitting on this fight so hard haha? Thought we all understood what this was. Two OGs that would likely not deliver a banger but would come together in a send off that felt respectful to Nate’s career. Just be happy neither of them are getting completely destroyed.
— MS (@UFC_Obsessed) September 11, 2022
Mike Jackson
I know Nate's frustration. #UFC279
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) September 11, 2022
Bi Nguyen
So much respect for these legends. @NateDiaz209 and @TonyFergusonXT #ufc279
— Bi Nguyen “killer bee” (@killerbeemma) September 11, 2022
Brendan Fitzgerald
Closest thing UFC will ever have to an All-Star weekend legends game. #UFC279
— Brendan Fitzgerald (@BrendanFitzTV) September 11, 2022
Alexander Volkanovski
I don’t know what to call this but we are loving it here #atthebarn #ufc279
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) September 11, 2022
Ryan Clark
Man, @Jon_Anik is the best in the world at his job. He makes every fight sound like Rocky vs Drago. @ufc 279
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) September 11, 2022
Justin Gaethje
@ufc doesn’t get better than this. Legends! Two funky bastards made to fight each other 🔥
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) September 11, 2022
Kay Hansen
What is Diaz doing 😂😂 #ufc279
— Kay Hansen (@KayHansenMMA) September 11, 2022
Belal Muhammad
Anyone else gets booed for that
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 11, 2022
Mike Perry
Nate and Tony are both legends as well
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) September 11, 2022
Nick Kalikas
#UFC279 LIVE In-Game Wagering Odds After Round-3 via @CircaSports
Tony Ferguson +235
Nate Diaz -305@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) September 11, 2022
Ben Askren
What a bizarre fight we have here!
— Funky (@Benaskren) September 11, 2022
Angela Hill
MOVE OF THE NIGHT!!! #UFC279
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 11, 2022
Simon Samano
Odd tweet but, uh, how much blood has Tony Ferguson lost from his SHIN? 😳 #UFC279
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) September 11, 2022
Julian Marquez
This is exactly the entertainment I pay to see! #ufc279
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) September 11, 2022
Edson Barboza
🙄
— Edson Barboza (@EdsonBarbozaJR) September 11, 2022
Dustin Poirier
The bum Olympics #UFC279
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) September 11, 2022
Will Brooks
Ferguson looks old tonight.
He's always had a funky unorthodox style but this doesn't look good. #UFC279
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) September 11, 2022
Teddy Atlas
Diaz’s pressure may be showing now. Who’s in better shape? #UFC279
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) September 11, 2022
Mike Bohn
NATE DIAZ does it! He's the first to submit Tony Ferguson since 2009 to close out his UFC contract. Wow. pic.twitter.com/mdoCvX1mkv
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) September 11, 2022
Brett Okamoto
Fitting end. Nate via guillotine as he flexes for the crowd. Fourth round finish. And he’s a free agent.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) September 11, 2022
Belal Muhammad
Tony better never mention khabibs name again
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 11, 2022
Jake Paul
Breaking News:
Nate Diaz is officially out of his UFC contract.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) September 11, 2022
Nate Diaz is a muthufuckin legend and would have slapped the shit out of Khamzat
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) September 11, 2022
Gilbert Burns
Wow 🤩
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) September 11, 2022
Ben Askren
Damn did Ferg want out? That guillotine happened quick, Tony didn’t try to fight hands
— Funky (@Benaskren) September 11, 2022
Bryce Mitchell
UFC
NATE DIAZ DOES ONE MORE TIME!!!!!!! #UFC279 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/ta75j4ueC3
— UFC (@ufc) September 11, 2022
Tatiana Suarez
I love the respect between these guys 🙏🏽 #ufc279
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) September 11, 2022
Henry Cejudo
What a way to go out if this is really it. Nate Diaz is a legend of the fight game! 👏 #UFC279
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 11, 2022
Frank Mir
The MMA Gods have spoken @NateDiaz209 #UFC279 #209
— Frank Mir (@thefrankmir) September 11, 2022
MMA Junkie
#UFC279 results: Nate Diaz (@NateDiaz209) def. Tony Ferguson via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 4, 2:52
Full results: https://t.co/tYqEufrGC3 pic.twitter.com/alhbSw3FxY
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 11, 2022
Michael Carroll
MOST SUBMISSIONS – UFC History
16 – Charles Oliveira
11 – Demian Maia
11 – Jim Miller
10 – Royce Gracie
10 – Nate Diaz#UFC279— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) September 11, 2022
John Kavanagh
Beautiful guilly 👏🏼#trilogy
— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) September 11, 2022
Angela Hill
NATE FUCKIN DIAZ!!!! #UFC270
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 11, 2022
Cris Cyborg
Congrats @NateDiaz209 2-0 this weekend. 🔥
— CrisCyborg.com Boxing Sept 25th (@criscyborg) September 11, 2022
Derek Brunson
Bet Nate Diaz to the San Francisco 49ers ! 😂😂😂 #UFC279
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 11, 2022
