• UFC 118

Hathaway backs 'wicked' Diaz to defeat Marcus Davis

ESPN staff
August 24, 2010
John Hathaway's a big fan of the Diaz brothers

John Hathaway has confessed Nate Diaz is one of his favourite fighters in MMA, and he is backing him to beat Marcus Davis at UFC 118 this weekend.

Diaz makes what will be officially classed as his UFC welterweight debut when he meets Davis on the August 28 main card, after Rory Markham's failure to make weight deemed Diaz's previous fight a middleweight encounter.

Learning all the time since his appearance on the TUF 5 reality show, Diaz enters the Davis fight under some pressure, holding a 2-3 record from his last five fights. At only 25 years of age he is an excellent jiu-jitsu technician with improving hands, but it remains to be seen if the step up from lightweight to welterweight will aid his power.

Hathaway is something of a welterweight veteran compared to Diaz, winning all 14 of his career bouts, but he admits that both Diaz brothers hold his respect. Asked about a possible future fight with Nate, Hathaway insisted he would keep training and see what happens.

"I love the Diaz's style, they're actually two of my favourite fighters, both him and his brother," Hathaway told ESPN.co.uk.

"They're both wicked guys. I'll just keep training the way I'm training and try to improve.

"I'm looking forward to that fight [Diaz v Davis] actually, it's one of my favourites for UFC 118."

Ask if he felt Diaz would beat Davis, Hathaway replied: "I do."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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