The best and worst from UFC Fight Night 134

#2 Worst: Marc Diakiese might be a busted prospect

Is Marc Diakiese now a busted prospect?

Just over a year ago, British striker Marc ‘Bonecrusher’ Diakiese was considered one of the best prospects on the UFC roster. At that stage he was 3-0 in the UFC, had moved to the US to train with American Top Team, was coming off one of the best knockouts of 2017 over Teemu Packalen, and had signed a new, lucrative contract with the promotion. A loss last July to Drakkar Klose was a tough pill to swallow, but most expected him to bounce back.

Unfortunately, a year on from the loss to Klose, it looks like Diakiese is a busted prospect on the level of a Brandon Thatch or Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. He looked painfully outgunned in a December loss to Dan Hooker and was dispatched via guillotine choke, and last night’s loss to Nasrat Haqparast was arguably even more disappointing.

Haqparast – looking like a miniature Kelvin Gastelum – simply gave Diakiese no respect at all, walking through his strikes to deliver clubbing blows of his own, and by the end of the second round it looked like the Brit was being hurt in every exchange, and struggled to get to his feet following the buzzer.

It was a good win for Haqparast but it could well be the end of the line for Diakiese in the UFC, which is absolutely sad. He’s clearly a fantastic athlete who has a lot of potential, but it looks like he can’t cope with an opponent who’s willing to pressure him hard. If he can close that hole in his game then there’s a chance for him still, but right now it isn’t looking good.