Sherdog’s Top 10: Nate Diaz’s Signature Moments

4. Double Bird Icing on the Cake

Nate Diaz was anything but dominant in his first round against Kurt Pellegrino at UFC Fight Night “Florian vs. Lauzon” on April 2, 2008. Pellegrino landed hard strikes to the head and opened multiple cuts on the Stockton, California, native’s face. Blood seeped from the wounds, but Diaz never wavered from the belief that he had “Batman” right where he wanted him.

Pellegrino ate some decent punches early in the second round before shooting in and delivering a takedown. Diaz moved from half guard to full guard and briefly threatened with a kimura from his back. Pellegrino defended the shoulder lock, pressured the Cesar Gracie disciple from top position and connected with several stinging elbows to the head.

Later, the two men returned to their feet. From the clinch, Pellegrino hoisted Diaz off his feet and slammed him to the canvas. However, he failed to recognize that Diaz had already locked in triangle choke, and when they hit the mat, the Californian tightened his grip around Pellegrino’s neck, flexed his biceps and flipped his two middle fingers skyward in defiance before the tapout came.

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