Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — All Nate Diaz needed was one break in the second round to emerge as the victor in his UFC 196 match against the heavily-favored Conor McGregor on Sunday (March 6) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Diaz put the stranglehold on the win with a second-round submission, improving his MMA record to 19-10.
McGregor, who currently holds the featherweight title, absorbed his third defeat in 22 bouts.
At the onset, the feral McGregor looked like he was in a prime position to win, battering his foe on all fronts inside the octagon.
But things went downhill for the Irish fighter in the second round.
A wounded Diaz slammed McGregor with a hook and from there, the latter looked nothing like the fierce warrior who was going for the jugular early in the fight.
Inside the final minute, Diaz gained steam and got McGregor on a rear naked choke hold on his way to victory.
Meanwhile, Miesha Tate nabbed the women’s bantamweight title at the expense of Holly Holm.
Tate won her first belt after choking out Holm in the fifth round.
In November last year, Holm dethroned Ronda Rousey in a convincing fashion.
