Nate Diaz came into UFC on Fox 7 having never been stopped due to strikes in his career. Josh Thomson was able to put an end to that rather impressive accomplishment with a head kick and follow up punches that forced the stoppage.
In the days leading up to the fight with Thomson, Diaz made several statements suggesting that he wanted to move up to welterweight, a division he’d competed in multiple times during his UFC career.
UFC president Dana White doesn’t think that’s the best idea in the long run (via MMA Fighting):
“I think going to 170 is a big mistake,” UFC president Dana White told reporters Saturday night. “Big, strong guys at 170.”
…
“He can make 155,” White said. “Look what happened tonight at 155.”
Diaz has gone 3-2 since making the return to the lightweight division, but has lost his last two fights. Those two losses should be kept in perspective though. Thomson has long been a massively underrated lightweight and proved last night that he’s a top 10 — if not better — talent. The other loss was to UFC lightweight champ Ben Henderson.
Wins over the likes of Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller prove that Diaz can still make serious waves at 155, so it may very well be his best option to not move up and once again test the welterweight waters.