UFC 279: Diaz vs Ferguson

UFC 279: Diaz vs Ferguson was a MMA event produced by the UFC that took place on September 10, 2022 at the T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitian Area, United States.

## Background

The promotion originally targeted a UFC Bantamweight Championship bout between Aljamain Sterling and former 2-time champion TJ Dillashaw as the main event, but opted to change plans and move it to UFC 280.

A welterweight bout between Khamzat Chimaev and former lightweight title challenger (also The Ultimate Fighter 5 lightweight winner) Nate Diaz was originally expected to headline the event. However at the weigh ins, Chimaev weighed in at 178.5 pounds, 7.5 pounds over the welterweight non-title limit and the bout was cancelled. As a result, the organisation opted to shuffle a trio of fights: a new main event featuring Diaz against former interim UFC Lightweight Champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: Team Lesnar vs Team dos Santos welterweight winner) Tony Ferguson, who was originally scheduled to fight Li Jingliang in a welterweight bout, was then set. In addition, Chimaev was matched up with Kevin Holland, who was originally scheduled to face Daniel Rodriguez at a catchweight of 180 pounds, though the new matchup would be a 5 round bout (Chimaev wasn't fined due to the new booking). Finally, Rodriguez and Jingliang were matched up at a catchweight of 180 pounds.

A trio of bouts was originally scheduled for this date, but they were eventually pushed back a week to UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song as the promotion adjusted its schedule in June: lightweight bouts featuring Trey Ogden vs. Daniel Zellhuber and Nikolas Motta vs. Cameron VanCamp; as well as a welterweight bout between Louis Cosce and Trevin Giles.

A women's strawweight bout between Hannah Cifers and Melissa Martinez was expected to take place at the event. However, Cifers pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Elise Reed.

A middleweight bout between Jamie Pickett and Denis Tiuliulin was expected to take place at UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Fiziev, but it was moved to this card due to Tiuliulin suffering an injury during the week of the fight.

A heavyweight bout between Shamil Abdurakhimov and Jailton Almeida was expected to take place at the eventHowever, Abdurakhimov was forced to withdraw due to visa issues and was replaced by Anton Turkalj at a catchweight of 220 pounds

The organization usually holds a pre-fight press-conference two days before numbered events, but this edition's was cancelled mid section. All fighters in the last three bouts of the event were expected to participate, however after a lengthy delay, UFC President Dana White showed up only with Holland and Rodriguez. He announced that fighters would be brought in pairs, but cancelled the press-conference after their participation instead for "everybody's safety". He later revealed that an altercation involving four fighters and their teams took place backstage. It initiated with Chimaev and Holland, with Diaz eventually getting involved. The Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) is expected to investigate the incident and potentially discipline all licensees.

In addition to Chimaev missing weight, featherweight Hakeem Dawodu and heavyweight Chris Barnett both missed weight as well. Dawodu weighed at 149.5 pounds, 3.5 pounds over the non-title featherweight limit, while Barnett weighed in at 267.5 pounds, 1.5 pounds over the non-title heavyweight limit. Both bouts proceeded at catchweight with Dawodu and Barnett each fined 30% and 20% of their purses, which went to their opponents Julian Erosa and Jake Collier respectively. A women's bantamweight bout between Irene Aldana and The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters women's featherweight winner Macy Chiasson was also changed to a 140-pound catchweight bout, but it was not due to a weight miss.

## Results and Awards

1. **^** Tiuliulin was deducted 1 point in round 2 due to a groin strike.

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses

* Fight of the Night: Not awarded
* Performance of the Night: Nate Diaz, Irene Aldana, Johnny Walker & Jailton Almeida

## Post-Match Records and Facts

* Nate Diaz's 10th submission victory have put him in tied 4th with Royce Gracie in UFC's most submission wins in history, behind Charles Oliveira (16), Demian Maia & Jim Miller (11)
* Diaz's 6 submission victories from a bottom position are the most in UFC history.
* Diaz's 15 fight-night bonuses for UFC bouts are the 3rd most in the UFC history behind Donald Cerrone & Charles Oliveira (18)
* Khamzat Chimaev delivered his 4th UFC performance without taking a signifcant strike, the most in UFC history.
* Irene Aldana earned just the 3rd finish in UFC history stemming from an upkick from bottom position. Jon Fitch & Niko Price also accomplished this.
* Norma Dumont's 3 victories in the UFC Women's Featherweight division is tied for 2nd most in UFC history behind Cris Cyborg (4).