UFC 129 Play-by-Play: Nate Diaz vs. Rory MacDonald

Rory MacDonald and Nate Diaz at UFC 129

Round 1: Diaz moving forward to start the fight, feeling out the distance. Diaz gets clipped by a good shot from MacDonald, and then they move into the clinch. MacDonald drops for a takedown, Diaz reverses and they both let go and stand back up. MacDonald lands a nice jumping punch. Diaz throws out his arms to get MacDonald to engage. In the clinch, the fighters are looking for superior position, but then separate again. Diaz slips under looking for a takedown, but gets stuck against the cage and lets go.
MMAWeekly scores R1 10-9 Rory MacDonald

Rory MacDonald kicks Nate Diaz at UFC 129

Round 2: Diaz still pressing forward as he tries to get MacDonald to play into his game. Diaz looks for a takedown, but then drops to pull guard, but MacDonald is having none of it. MacDonald then slips in for a takedown. Diaz gets back up after a few strikes on the mat. Diaz still pawing forward with jabs, but nothing much landing. MacDonald cracks Diaz with a hard uppercut as they separate. Diaz gets the clinch against the cage and digs knees into MacDonald’s thighs. MacDonald goes for a jumping knee but misses. MacDonald just getting the better of the exchanges on the feet.
MMAWeekly scores R2 10-9 Rory MacDonald

Rory MacDonald celebrates at UFC 129

Round 3: MacDonald launches a leg kick to open the third, and he seems more aggressive this round. MacDonald gets the clinch as Diaz tries to hammer away to the body and legs. Diaz drops down for a takedown, but MacDonald sprawls and then lands a huge slam. They’re up and MacDonald lands another huge slam as the Rogers Centre literally starts to rock. MacDonald rocking Diaz with strikes, he gets up and lands a huge suplex that has the crowd going nuts. Diaz again looking for a takedown and gets punched for his trouble. On the ground now, MacDonald blasting away at Diaz with punches and elbows.
MMAWeekly scores R3 10-8 Rory MacDonald

Rory MacDonald def. Nate Diaz by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)

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