Bangor’s Marcus Davis succumbed to a submission via choke by Nate Diaz at 4:02 into the third round in a welterweight match at UFC 118 in Boston, the promotions first event in New England.

Round One: After a brief feeling out period the two started to trade punches. Diaz began to taunt the 'Irish Hand Grenade', who in turn clocked Diaz  with a crisp power shot. In the ensuing exchange Davis, a notorious bleeder, was cut badly above the right eye. The last half of the first round saw Davis generally getting the better of Diaz in what turned out to be little more than a boxing match. Judges scored it 10-9, 10-9, 9-10 for Davis.

Between rounds the medical examiner scrutinized the cut, and after some words with Davis allowed the fight to continue to a round of applause from the Boston crowd.

Round Two: The second round was more of the same as Davis stood his ground despite worsening visibility from the cut. In the last minute Davis scored a take-down that Diaz managed to reverse just before the bell. Judges scored it 10-9, 10-9, 9-10 for Diaz.

Round Three: The third and final round saw more hands being traded as Diaz began to assert himself. One minute into the round Diaz wrestled Davis into the fence where they momentarily maneuvered before Davis disengaged to chants of "Let's go Marcus!" The final two minutes saw a slowing and visually impaired Davis get taken down.

An attempt by Davis to stand up left him vulnerable to the choke that ended the match.

For their efforts both fighter were given 'Fight of the Night' honors with a $60,000 bonus awarded to each.

Davis falls to 17-7 while Diaz improves to 13-5.

About this Blog

Jay is in his eleventh year working in the sports department at the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. A former All-State track athlete for Old Orchard Beach, football and volleyball player at the University of East Anglia, and cheerleader for the University of Maine Black Bears, Jay has dabbled in a variety sports over the years. In 2001 he had the pleasure to begin training in mixed martial arts with Master Seung Choi, the late founder of the Choi Institute of Martial Arts and Science. Though Jay has turned his attention to road racing since the master passed away in 2005, his interest and enthusiasm in MMA has remained. He recently finished the MDI Marathon and is looking forward to exploring Greece with his wife Erin in the spring.

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