Nate Diaz chokes out Tony Ferguson; plans to go into boxing

The UFC's intention heading into Nate Diaz's final contest at Saturday's UFC 279 was to give him the toughest possible matchup on the way out. That's why the organization made the matchup between him and Khazmat Chimaev.  But those plans came spiraling down when Chimaev missed weight by 7.5 pounds. Immediately, the bout was scrapped because of the weight discrepancy. Scrambling, the UFC made the best fight possible, and it was a great one as Diaz took on former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson in the main event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. 

And Diaz didn't disappoint as he fought a Nate Diaz fight which has endeared him to fans worldwide and made him a global superstar. He threw middle fingers, pointed, and laughed at Ferguson when he cracked him with a hard shot. And the native of Stockton, Calif., finished things in style with a submission victory while flexing his muscles at the 2:52 mark of the fourth round. DAZN had it scored 29-28 for Ferguson at the time of the guillotine choke. Heading into the fourth round, it appeared to be a close fight, but two of the judges had Diaz winning all three rounds while the other judge had the same score as DAZN. Typically, the later rounds are when Diaz shifts things into another gear. The former Ultimate Fighter winner did precisely that. 

His combinations were crisper and were taking their effect on Ferguson. Finally, a double left hook sent Ferguson into the cage. Realizing he was in trouble, Ferguson went for a takedown. Diaz saw it coming and closed the show. He quickly snatched Ferguson's neck and locked him in the guillotine choke. He knew the former interim lightweight champion was done as he started flexing muscles, and Ferguson tapped as the arena erupted in jubilation. 

What is next for Diaz? Stay in the UFC for a highly anticipated trilogy clash with Conor McGregor? Take a boxing match with Jake Paul if he beats Anderson Silva on Oct. 29? 

"I want to get out of the UFC for a minute and show all these UFC fighters to take over and own up another sport," Diaz told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview. "How you're supposed to do it because Conor McGregor didn't know how to do it."

Here is what happened at UFC 279.