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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Diaz dominates Miller to earn UFC title shot

By: Dave Deibert

Posted: 05/6/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Nate Diaz (CP)

In front of the biggest audience of his life, Ultimate Fighting Championship star Nate Diaz put on perhaps the best performance of his career.

The native of Stockton, Calif., left no doubt that he's ready for a shot at the UFC lightweight title, dominating one of the division's best, Jim Miller, in Saturday night's main event of UFC on FOX 3. In a battle with major title implications, Diaz made the hometown favourite look out of place, dominating him for nearly two rounds until forcing Miller to tap out at 4:09 of the second round at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

"I'm feeling good," said Diaz (16-7), noting that he "was behind enemy lines" taking on Miller in New Jersey.

"I know he's a great fighter. I have nothing bad to say about the guy."

With the win, Diaz earned a title shot against the winner of the upcoming rematch between lightweight champion Benson Henderson and Frankie Edgar.

"I'm trying to be No. 1 in this world," said Diaz, quickly adding that he feels the "true world champion lightweight" is training partner and close friend Gilbert Melendez, the lightweight champion of UFC's sister promotion, Strikeforce.

UFC president Dana White confirmed at the post-fight press conference that Diaz could have chosen to face Anthony Pettis -- the other lightweight challenger in the mix -- but instead will sit on the sidelines and wait to see how the Henderson-Edgar match plays out.

"I'm down for whatever," said Diaz.

In the past, Diaz has struggled with wrestlers. Miller tried to use his wrestling base to grind Diaz down but the strategy failed. In the first round, Diaz actually outstruck Miller from the clinch and dropped him with a straight left hand in the final 30 seconds. The second round was when Diaz really got going, picking Miller apart in the stand-up and jawing at him verbally.

"It didn't affect me," Miller said of the trash talk. "It was the strikes he was landing that affected me."

Diaz had Miller hurt against the fence when he went for a choke. Miller tried to roll out of it, but Diaz displayed a textbook submission game, using his off-hand to keep Miller close before readjusting and locking in tight a mounted guillotine choke.

With his tongue dangling out of his mouth and face turning purple, Miller had no choice but to tap out for the first time in 25 professional fights. It was the second time in a year a title shot was within reach for Miller - last year a seven-fight winning streak was ended by Henderson.

"He had my number," said Miller (21-4).

In the co-main event, Johny Hendricks earned a razor-thin split decision over veteran Josh Koscheck.

-- Postmedia News

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 6, 2012 B12

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