UFC 266 free fight: Nick Diaz starches Robbie Lawler in Round 2

When Nick Diaz and Robbie Lawler threw down more than 17 years ago, they absolutely delivered.

A 20-year-old Diaz faced Lawler at UFC 47 in April 2004 and the young, brash Stockton native put on one of the finest performances of his career.

Diaz pressed Lawler right off the bat, while taunting and talking to him. Both men threw heat, but after landing what would become his patented “Stockton Slap,” Diaz rocked Lawler with a one-two combination. But that only angered Lawler, who fired back in what was a wildly entertaining first round.

The intensity from both men didn’t taper down in Round 2, but 90 seconds in, Diaz face planted a lunging Lawler with a counter left. A tough Lawler popped right back up after the referee stopped the fight, but was stumbling all over the octagon.

Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) returns to action Sept. 25 when he rematches former welterweight champion Lawler (28-15 MMA, 13-9 UFC) at UFC 266, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Before he runs things back with Lawler, relive their first meeting in the video above.