Two of the most prominent names in the game today, Nate Diaz and Khamzat Chimaev, will lock horns in the main event of UFC 279 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The fight will mark the end of Diaz’s current contract with the UFC and the Stockton native is set to enter free agency.
Luke Rockhold recently gave his take on the upcoming welterweight clash between Nate Diaz and Khamzat Chimaev.
During a recent interview, Luke Rockhold weighed in on the UFC 279 main event matchup. According to the former UFC middleweight champion, the younger Diaz brother needs to rely on his endurance to outlast Chimaev.
When asked his opinion on how Diaz can pull off an upset against Chimaev, Rockhold said:
“Outlast him. I mean, that’s what Nate Diaz does best, right? He waits till the end, takes the punishment and tries to find an opening. You know, they are so relaxed, the boys [Diaz brothers]. That plays to their advantage in the later stages of their fight. And that’s really the only way I see him winning this fight. “
Luke Rockhold added:
“Chimaev is too solid. Too solid of a wrestler, too good of a base, too good of a boxer, too strong. It’s a bit of a far-fetched thing for Nathan, but you never know. He must have taken it for a reason, he believes in himself. It’s the last fight on his contract, so it’s a dangerous fight to take. It’s an interesting game he plays.”
Luke Rockhold is set to return to the octagon after a three-year hiatus this weekend when he squares off against Paulo Costa in a high stakes middleweight clash at UFC 278. The duo are set to throw down in the co-main event of the upcoming pay-per-view, which will be underway in Salt Lake City.
Check out the full interview below: