Nate Diaz completely outclassed Anthony Pettis, then challenged Jorge Masvidal to an East vs. West Coast gangster fight

• Nate Diaz completely outclassed Anthony Pettis at UFC 241.
• Diaz won every round on every judges scorecard, besting Pettis in style.
• He then used his victory speech to challenge Jorge Masvidal to a fight between East and West Coast gangsters.
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Nate Diaz just bested Anthony Pettis in style, in command through the entire three-round bout at UFC 241 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Diaz hadn't fought for three years so there were question marks over how good he could be against Pettis, who entered their welterweight fight on a high having knocked out Stephen Thompson in wondrous fashion, last year.

But it was Diaz who forced the action and Diaz who dictated the pace as the Stockton native won a unanimous decision with three scores of 30-27, using his victory speech to challenge Jorge Masvidal in an East Coast vs. West Coast gangster battle.

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Against Pettis, Diaz rarely looked like he lost control. It was Diaz who had the superior sense of distance and how to control it, it was Diaz who could escape the submission attempts Pettis tried to lock in, and Diaz who made Pettis gas after only two rounds.

The 34-year-old did much of his best work in the clinch, landing plenty of knees to his opponent's face, tiring Pettis further. In the third, Diaz had chances to score a finish in his comeback, working top position then failing with a triangle, but overall did enough to win every round on every judges scorecard in what was a dominant win for the crowd favorite.

When the UFC commentator asked Diaz whether fans would see him fight again, he said: "The reason I've been off is because everybody sucks ... but Jorge Masvidal had a good last fight."

Masvidal, also 34, went viral in July because he concussed Ben Askren with a highlight-reel flying knee after just five seconds at UFC 239.

"I know my man is a gangster," Diaz said as Masvidal laughed and pointed cageside. "But he ain't no West Coast gangster."