UFC 150 Results: 3 Reasons Nate Diaz Will Defeat Benson Henderson

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Ben Henderson scraped through his rematch against Frankie Edgar at UFC 150 on Saturday and retained the lightweight title in the process.

His next match has already been decided.

Henderson will face Nate Diaz, a man who’s looked scintillating in his last three matches.

If he struggled to impose his will against Edgar, Diaz may be too much for him to handle. Here’s why.

 

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He Is a Superior Striker

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In his match against Donald Cerrone, Nate Diaz landed the most strikes in a single match by any fighter in the UFC.

His pinpoint accuracy and relentless pace, gleaned from his older brother, is on another level in the lightweights.

Sure, Henderson acquitted himself well against Edgar—one of the best punchers in the UFC—but Diaz is a different story.

He Is a Better Grappler

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A Caesar Gracie black belt, Diaz has some of the best submissions in the game, and has shown it by repeatedly tapping out his opponents.

His skills were last on display against Jim Miller in May when he submitted his opponent by guillotine choke in the second round.

Henderson has a lethal guillotine, too. He notably choked out Jamie Varner and Donald Cerrone in his WEC days. However, it’s been a long time since he’s shown that sort of skill on the ground, and that’s another area where Diaz has him beat.

He Has a 6-Inch Reach Advantage

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If Henderson was unable to finish the 5'6" Frankie Edgar, the 6'0" Diaz—with his six-inch reach advantage—will pose a considerably greater challenge.

Diaz’s wiry physique and reach sets him apart in the lightweights, and he has used it time and again to control the centre of the Octagon and impose his will in his fights.

Henderson, to his credit, has exceptional footwork and he could overcome any size disparity with quick movement and timing. However, the advantage is still Diaz’s.