Nate Diaz is returning toUFC after a year and a half. The Stockton Slugger is fighting no 3 welterweight Leon Edwards in the co-main event of UFC 263.
Diaz had his last fight in 2019. Nate lost to Masvidal via KO while Edwards’ last fight with Belal ended in a no contest. Even if it was before 2 years it still would play an important psychological role towards their approach. But, MMA is also about toughness and endurance. Here is a comparison of height, weight, and other physical attributes between the two.
Nate Diaz and Leon Edwards stats
Nate Diaz
Wins/Losses- 20/12 (16 finishes)
Height/Reach- 6 ft 0 in/ 76 inches
Striking accuracy- 45%
grappling accuracy- 30%
No of submission wins- 12
Significant wins- Conor Mcgregor, Jim Miller, Michael Johnson, Gray Maynard, Anthony Pettis
Leon Edwards
Wins/Losses- 18/3 (9 finishes)
Height/Reach- 6 ft 2 in/ 74 inches
Striking accuracy- 47%
grappling accuracy- 30%
No of submission wins- 12
Significant wins- Rafael Dos Anjos, Donanld Cerrone
Diaz vs Edwards Fight Breakdown
Nate Diaz makes his Octagon return against Leon Edwards at UFC 263. It’s going to be a five-round fight and it’ll be the first fight for Diaz since UFC 244. His last fight against Jorge Masvidal ended in a doctor’s stoppage as Diaz got a gruesome cut above his eye.
It is to be noted that Diaz was getting dominated by Masvidal until the fight was stopped. And that performance raised the question of whether Nate Diaz belongs in the welterweight division.
Nate Diaz has some wins at the welterweight division but those are against Conor McGregor and Anthony Pettis who are not legit welterweights either. Besides that, Nate Diaz has lost many fights to real welterweight contenders such as Jorge Masvidal, Rory McDonald, and so on. Unfortunately, the fans of Nate Diaz will see a similar result at UFC 263 as it is very likely that Leon Edwards will dominate Diaz in the 5 round fight.
Leon Edwards is faster, stronger, and more skilled as a striker. He has more weapons than Nate Diaz in his arsenal to finish the fight. On the other hand, Diaz has good boxing and slick submission game but Edward will have to make a mistake to end up in a submission by Diaz.
Edwards has excellent takedown defense and can easily fight 5 rounds with a high pace. So it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Diaz can beat Edwards. Diaz has good boxing but it won’t be enough against the well-roundedness of Edwards.
Now Edwards might not be as aggressive as Masvidal. But he is more skilled than Jorge Masvidal and it won’t be surprising if he gets a TKO victory over Diaz. Now Diaz is extremely tough and durable but the scar tissues on his face make it very difficult for him to absorb punches.
Leon Edwards should comfortably win this fight and secure a shot at the title.