UFC 135 Results: Nate Diaz Submits Takanori Gomi in First Round

Nate Diaz put on a virtuoso performance at UFC 135 when he became the second Diaz brother to submit former Pride champion Takanori Gomi.

Diaz (14-7) locked on a deep armbar to force Gomi's tap at 4:27 of the first round.

It was easily the best performance of Diaz's career. Diaz controlled Gomi throughout, landing a steady stream of jabs seemingly at will. He began to drop his hands and taunt Gomi, but Gomi seemed powerless to respond. 

Tellingly, Gomi in desperation took the jiu-jitsu black belt to the ground to avoid Diaz's standup assault. That proved to be the beginning of the end. Diaz maneuvered for a triangle choke, which appeared deep, but ultimately transitioned into an armbar that forced an end to the bout.

The win could not have come at a better time for the Stockton, Calif. native. Diaz, 26, came into the fight a loser of two straight, and was making his return to the lightweight division.

The fight also came as Nate's brother, Nick Diaz, receives widespread criticism after he missed a news conference and was subsequently removed from his UFC 137 title fight with welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

Nick Diaz submitted Gomi by gogoplata in 2007, only to have the fight ruled a no-contest following a positive drug test.

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