Sherdog’s Top 10: Nate Diaz’s Signature Moments
Mike SloanAug 20, 2016
7. Fighting Fire with Fire
Takanori Gomi will go down in history as one of the greatest lightweights of all-time. He was a superstar and champion in Shooto and Pride Fighting Championships, but by the time he arrived in the UFC, he had seen his better days and was not able to live up to the reputation he had established overseas. Still, “The Fireball Kid” was expected to pose a significant test for Nate Diaz at UFC 135 on Sept. 24, 2011.
Nick Diaz had pulled off a rare gogoplata submission -- the result was later overturned -- against Gomi in one of the most memorable fights in Pride history, and the MMA world was eager to see if his younger brother could replicate his success. He, too, scored a submission but was far more dominant in doing so. Diaz picked apart Gomi in their early exchanges and staggered him with several clean punches to the head. The Japanese veteran retreated, swung wildly and ate jabs and lead lefts upstairs. Gomi shot in for a desperate takedown, and Diaz ensnared him with a triangle armbar. Once he cranked on the elbow, “The Fireball Kid” had no choice but to concede defeat.
With that, Diaz joined B.J. Penn, Marcus Aurelio, Satoru Kitaoka, Kenny Florian and Clay Guida as the only men to submit Gomi. Only Diaz utilized the armbar.
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