Nate Diaz’s popularity reached a whole different level after the Stockton Slugger submitted Conor McGregor back at UFC 196. Additionally, equally spectacular performance in the rematch meant Diaz’s performance in the first fight was not a matter of chance. Over the years, Nate Diaz, the younger brother of former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz has gained popularity for his sneaky submissions that have seen him finish several opponents inside the cage.
Coming from the legendary Gracie jiu-jitsu family, Nate Diaz has maintained his name as one of the best submission artists in the game. However, despite getting recognition for having never been finished inside the cage, people often forget the times when Nate Diaz has lost a fight after getting stopped.
While his stoppage loss against Josh Thomson with a vicious head kick is quite famous, not many are aware of Nate Diaz’s submission loss against Hermes França.
Hermes Franca: The only fighter to submit Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz suffered his first submission loss against Hermes Franca back in October of 2006. Diaz was relatively young in the game of mixed martial arts, with the fight against Franca marking his seventh MMA appearance. However, it was a pivotal fight in Diaz’s career who was fighting for the WEC lightweight championship.
Diaz had a huge opportunity to lift the WEC lightweight title, however, he failed to do so after suffering a second-round submission loss. Despite the loss, Diaz showed great footwork and was able to dominate Franca during the course of the fight. However, it was a sneaky armbar from the back that marked Diaz’s first stoppage loss.
Over the years, Diaz has shown his incredible submission skills, submitting the likes of Takanori Gomi and Jim Miller. A 2nd-degree black belt under Cesar Gracie, Diaz is a renowned name in the world of BJJ. Needless to say, it is his efficiency on the ground and durability inside the Octagon that has made many believe that Diaz has never been finished. It won’t be wrong to say that the many examples of Nate Diaz showing his toughness have made many forget the two stoppage losses he has suffered in his mixed martial arts career.
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