Watch incredible final minute as Leon Edwards survives late onslaught from bloodied Nate Diaz to win their UFC 263 war
LEON EDWARDS incredibly survived a last minute onslaught from a bloodied Nate Diaz to win their UFC 263 war.
The welterweight pair made history as they became the first ever five-round non main-event.
And it was one for the books as Edwards, comfortably in the lead, was stunned in the last 60 seconds.
Diaz, 36, landed a perfect one-two combination which buckled his opponent's knees, setting up a grand stand finish.
He continued to pour on the pressure as Edwards, 29, desperately circled out of trouble and fought back.
Diaz, bleeding from prior damage taken in the fight, was relentless till the final bell but was unable to finish Edwards off.
It means he now has consecutive defeats, following his stoppage loss to Jorge Masvidal, 36, in 2019.
But Diaz, who wants to return in four months, insisted he is the superior fighter as he reacted to the final round.
He said: “In a real fight in a real world, that fight’s a wrap. He was sleepwalking.
“I got cut in training. That’s why we pushed the fight back a month. I kind of lost motivation after that. He won, but I feel like I’m the better fighter still.”
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Edwards is now unbeaten in ten fights, with his last loss in 2015 coming against current champion Kamaru Usman.
Usman, 34, is expected defend his belt against Colby Covington, 33, next in a rematch of their 2019 thriller.
But Edwards argues he is the one most deserving of another crack at Usman and a shot at the belt which comes with it.
He said: “I feel I should be next in line for the title shot.
“That’s nine-in-a-row or 10-in-a-row. No one else is doing what I’m doing. I offered to fight everybody: Khamzat, Diaz, Belal.
"These guys aren’t in the top ten. I’m the only one saying, ‘Yes.’ Everyone else is, like, bitching and sitting out and complaining.
"I’m the one that’s showing up, beating, and fighting these tough guys. I feel I deserve the next shot, for sure.”