UFC free fight: Nick Diaz settles trilogy with Jeremy Jackson in promotional debut

Nick Diaz closed an important chapter of his career while making his UFC debut.

Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) faced rival Jeremy Jackson in a trilogy bout at UFC 44, having split their first two meetings.

Jackson got the best of Diaz the first time around as he stopped the Stockton native in just 49 seconds in 2002. But in the rematch less than a year later, Diaz exacted his revenge by stopping Jackson late in Round 1.

Their trilogy bout would take place swiftly after, as both fighters made their UFC debuts. This time, they would do battle beyond the first round as both men looked to claim the trilogy-sealing victory.

Twenty-year-old Diaz took the fight to the mat right out the gate, and repeatedly dragged Jackson to the ground every time he made his way back up. The second round played out entirely on the mat, as the pair tussled back and forth in lengthy grappling exchanges.

But in Round 3 Diaz was finally able to show off his superior jiu-jitsu, as he locked up a lightning-quick armbar from the bottom. Jackson knew the game was up and immediately tapped.

Since then, Diaz has bounced back-and-forth from the UFC to other promotions, and captured the Strikeforce welterweight title in 2010.

Diaz went on to have a 1-3 in his third stint with the UFC, and hasn’t competed since his loss to Anderson Silva in 2015, which was later turned to a no-contest due to Silva’s failed drug test.

Check out Diaz’s all-action UFC debut in the video above.