Most people expected that Rafael dos Anjos vs. Nate Diaz was going to go one of two ways: A disgruntled Diaz would get routed, or a disgruntled Diaz would prove to be surprisingly sharp in his return to action.
The result was the former.
Dos Anjos was a man possessed in beating Diaz from pillar to post, and Diaz looked like he had little interest in participating in an athletic endeavor on Saturday night.
Here’s what we learned.
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
We’ll remember the disinterested nature of Diaz and how badly it cost him against a game, hungry dos Anjos. At a time when dos Anjos was thinking about a title shot and Diaz was thinking about making some scratch, it showed in the cage.
It was the tale of two careers. Dos Anjos is on his way up, peaking at the right time and staking his claim as one of the top fighters. Diaz, meanwhile, looked like a man with nowhere left to go but down as the game continues to catch up with him. This might have been the worst fight of the Stockton product’s career.
What We Learned About Nate Diaz
We learned that he can’t fight when his heart isn’t in it.
Diaz has been one of the best lightweights alive for five years or more now. But on Saturday, he looked like a call-up from a Fight Pass show. He was outdueled at every turn, hobbled by leg kicks and split open with elbows on the ground.
In a business where you hurt dudes for money, you better come correct on the mental side of things. He’s better off staying away from the sport until he gets his head on straight.
What We Learned About Rafael dos Anjos
We learned that he’s the top contender for the lightweight title.
While Khabib Nurmagomedov has a claim as well, he’s not going to be ready to come back until mid-2015. In that time, dos Anjos could get his chance and perhaps even make good on it against champion Anthony Pettis. He’s put in the time in the UFC and the performances to justify it. He should be given a serious look from Dana White and Co.
On merit, there’s no one out there ahead of him at this point. Give him his chance.
What’s Next for Diaz
Some serious consideration about his career and how he wants it to continue. If he remains in the UFC and wants to compete for real, Diego Sanchez and the built-in family rivalry could get him appropriately fired up.
What’s Next for dos Anjos
It should be a title fight against Pettis. If it’s not, Edson Barboza might make an appealing opponent.
Follow me on Twitter @matthewjryder.
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