In the week that his brother Nick stamped on the rumors that he was about to make a return to the UFC by re-signing with Strikeforce Nate Diaz (13-5; 3KO, 9SUB) looks to continue his own progress at 170Ibs in what is effectively his third welterweight fight. His first two fights at the weight saw Diaz enter the Octagon in much better shape than he did at lightweight, as free of the strains of trying to cut to 155Ibs he was able to properly fill out his 6ft frame. He therefore looked significantly stronger than he did in lightweight bouts against the likes of Gray Maynard and better able to push the pace of the fight than he had against faster fighters like Clay Guida. However while a weight-drained Rory Markham and an aging Marcus Davis were unable to last against the younger Diaz, his opponent on New Year’s Day should prove a tougher challenge.
Kim Dong-hyun (13-0-1-1NC; 6KO, 1SUB) is perhaps the welterweight division’s best kept secret with the unbeaten South Korean having won four out of his five UFC matches. The one blemish is a controvesial no contest against Karo Parisyan where Dong-hyun’s disputed split-decision loss was overturned after Parisyan failed a post-fight drugs test. In his last fight he outpointed TUF7 winner Amir Sadalloah with a dominant performance that saw him take all three rounds on all three judges’ scorecards. A victory against Nate Diaz will move him to the next level in a division short on viable contenders.
Dong-hyun not only has the experience to test Nate Diaz but he has the proportions as well, not only matching Diaz’s 76inch reach but actually having an one inch height advantage. However I believe that Nate Diaz has too much quality for Kim Dong-hyun. On the feet Diaz’s pitter-patter boxing (often derided as slapping) allows him to overwhelm opponents on sheer volume of punches, a tactic that should prevent Dong-hyun from putting him under pressure on the feet. And on the ground the Cesar Gracie brown belt should excel against an opponent that has only ever demonstrated mechnical competence when it comes to grappling. It’ll be close but as the pace set by Diaz and the sheer volume of punches he lands wears down Dong-hyun, the South Korean will tire just enough to create the opening for Diaz to get the third round submission victory.
Pick: Nate Diaz by 3rd Round Submission
