UFC Lightweight’s Nate Diaz and Gray Maynard squared off on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 18 Finale showdown in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Both fighters had a lot to prove coming into this bout, but Diaz was ultimately the one to reign victorious— winning by TKO in the very first round. Despite Maynard coming out the gate aggressively, he was no match for the Stockton native.

Diaz beat Maynard in such convincing fashion that many called for Maynard to retire after the fight.

The match took a turn shortly after Maynard landed a single leg take down and eventually took Diaz’s back standing. Diaz took Maynard by surprise and pulled off an impressive judo throw reversal. Back on their feet, Diaz went on to land a short left that rocked his opponent, which led to a flurry of unanswered blows.

The referee, Yves Lavigne, mercifully called a stop to this contest at the 2:38 mark of the very first round— and not a moment too soon— as Maynard was seen stumbling onto the canvas shortly after.

Although commonly considered the underdog, Diaz has always displayed a true fighter’s spirit— ready to throw down with anyone, anytime.

This couldn’t be truer after Diaz agreed to fight Conor McGregor in placement of Rafael dos Anjos on March 5. Dos Anjos pulled out of his scheduled Lightweight Championship Title fight with McGregor with a broken foot.

With McGregor’s record of 19 wins— 17 by way of knockout— Diaz is considered the hefty underdog heading into this fight. In true Diaz fashion, this didn’t stop him from stepping up to what would be considered a daunting task for most— fighting McGregor with less than two weeks’ notice.

For the scrappy Stockton native, battling and defying the odds is merely a way of life.