UFC 141 Fight Card: What a Nate Diaz Win Means for the LW Division

An anticipated matchup between lightweights Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone is going down later tonight as the co-main event of UFC 141, and many are expecting to see a top contender emerge in the division.

Diaz enters the fight with an overall 14-7 record, including nine victories coming from inside the Octagon. All of his UFC victories are either by knockout or submission. Of his five losses in the UFC, all are by decision, including those against Gray Maynard, Clay Guida and Rory MacDonald.

Cerrone (17-3) will enter the bout as the favorite, and his four victories this year have shown him to be one of the most improved and exciting fighters of 2011. He hopes to make it seven straight going into the new year, and that’s no easy task for what’s in front of him.

Diaz has a tendency to win his fights in style, and that can go a long way, even if he hasn’t had the best continued success seen in the Octagon. He hasn’t been able to put together more than a two-fight win streak since 2008, but all of his fights have been nothing but entertaining. With a victory over Cerrone, he could easily see himself fighting in a No. 1 contender’s bout next.

The lightweight division is filled with talent, and Diaz is one fighter who separates himself from most with his relentless fighting style and fearless demeanor. This will take him further than any win streak he obtains, and it’s something that will help him get a title shot over most, even if their records look better.

UFC 141 will be broadcast on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET later tonight. The main event will feature the return of former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, who will be taking on Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

Other main card bouts include Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks, Nam Phan vs. Jimy Hettes and Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Alexander Gustafsson.