Why Nick Diaz Should Stick to MMA
Posted on April 18, 2011, 03:23 PM by Ryan VenturaLast Saturday was a wonderful day for combat sports fans. We had a showcase of world class Mixed Martial Arts from Bellator, in the world of Boxing we had top ranked fighter Amir Khan, and what the combat sports world is still buzzing about Victor Ortiz vs. Andre Berto. The bout between Victor Ortiz and Andre Berto was a fight for the ages for the WBO Welterweight title. A showcase of skill, heart, and technique that eventually ended with Victor Ortiz going home with the unanimous decision, and the welterweight strap.
I’ve been a boxing fan for a very long time; since I was just a baby in diapers I can recall my dad and my grandpa watching the likes of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr. and many more. Before I even knew what MMA was, I understood the sweet science. Comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges, peaches and pears. Both sports are in the same category, but neither one has the same “taste”. I enjoy both combat sports equally and I see the “beauty” in the techniques. For a boxer, I really admire speed, footwork, head movement, and the ability to distribute weight into each strike. For the modern Mixed Martial Artist, I admire the fighter who can show off well-rounded skills. Good on the feet, the ground, clinch, and whatever situation their opponent can throw at him or her.
Nick Diaz is one of those Mixed Martial Artists that display very well-rounded techniques. He is extremely effective on the feet and very dangerous when taken to the ground. Mr. 209 is one of the best fighters in the game today and last week on HD Net’s Inside MMA he revealed the he may be making the jump to professional boxing.
"Strikeforce doesn't have anybody else for me to fight right now, I'm better than all these guys they have," says Diaz. "The guys they have ranked above me, I'm sure they don't want to fight me. I don't see much of a future in this sport for me. I honestly don't, especially if there's not a whole lot of money going on."
If Diaz does make the jump to pro boxing, he has been rumoured to take on former top ranked Middleweight fighter Fernando Vargas. Fernando is set to return to competition sometime this year against an unnamed opponent after being retired for over three years. Vargas is best known a fighter who would choke when it came to fighting the best. He has been a victim of losses to the likes of Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley (twice), and rival Ricardo Mayorga.
In the world of Mixed Martial Arts Diaz has fought and beat some of the best strikers in the sport. Robbie Lawler, Takanori Gomi, KJ Noons, Scott Smith, Marius Zaromskis, Evangelista Santos, and most recently Paul Daley are some of Nick’s victims. All wonderful strikers in MMA, but if they were to test their striking in the K-1 Kickboxing realm or pro boxing they wouldn’t be able to hang with the top fighters or even journey men.
A lot of people talk about the boxing of Nick Diaz and how “technical” it is. To be honest his style of striking is truly only effective in the MMA world where he can use his Caesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu if needed. Not only that, Nick couldn’t and shouldn’t strike the way he strikes in the boxing ring. His chin is always nice and high, his hands always low. Nick has a nice lanky reach, an iron chin, but we all known iron chins don’t last forever. Nick is also a volume punching southpaw that could give fighters a hard time, but for a boxer who has trained in the sweet science for many years he’ll be able to pick Nick apart.
If Nick is really serious about competing in pro boxing, he needs to leave MMA for a while. Concentrating on head movement, foot work, learning how to use his range to his advantage. He already has undefeated and top ranked middleweight boxer Andre Ward in his corner which is a plus, but he needs to solely concentrate on boxing in order to be successful. However, if he were to come back he might not be the same Nick Diaz. Japanaese superstar Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto took a long hiatus from Mixed Martial Arts to go back into wrestling to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. When he returned to MMA, he just hasn’t looked like the same Kid we saw in 2005-2006.
Nick wouldn’t be able to hang with the top boxers in the world in a boxing match, but if he solely focuses on boxing he could be a successful journeyman. But why would you want that if your one of the best Mixed Martial Artists in the world? Sure you can make a lot more money being on a boxing undercard, but wouldn’t you rather be one of the greatest of all-time in MMA? In boxing we rarely remember the undercards, but we always remember the main event headliners. Do you remember who was on the undercard at the Thrilla in Manila?
Nick Diaz, I can understand you not feeling challenged in your division but with the recent purchase of Strikeforce by Zuffa, I think we can all name a handful of matches you could be tested in. With your recent performances, that money will come, and you’ll get the pay check you deserve. Or who knows I could be wrong and although this is very unlikely, Nick Diaz could be another crossover MMA fighter like Alistair Overeem finding success in the pure striking arts. But for the sake of your legacy Nick, stick to outboxing your opponents in MMA.
Photo: Nick Diaz, top, pummels Gleison Tibau during the Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC 65 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA, on November 18, 2006. Francis Specker
Comments
I would like Nick to stay in MMA just because hes one of the most talented n exciting fighters in the game rite now....but honestly Nick has no opponent that interests me except Mayhem....I would watch Nick fight just because who he is but I wouldnt b too excited to see him fight Woodley etc
Let's not forget the potential bouts he could have in the UFC.
Why wouldnt Vargas wanna fight Nick in MMA? He probably knows Nick prefers to outbox his opponents in MMA now....so I think Vargas means it, especially with the smaller gloves, I can see Vargas knocking Nick Diaz out
lol ... if diaz gets vargas for his first pro fight ! diaz will out punch ! out last vargas ! back him up up and tko him ! when and if the fight happens , in which i think it will . diaz will be the next bg thing in pro boxing and he will hold a title or two . no joke at all .
Logically not at all man, Vargas is out of his element in MMA. Ask James Toney how he did and he was an awesome boxer too. When you know nothing about grappling, your going to get violated.
If he just wants a payday, I say do it as an experiment, if he wins he has another future payday, I dont think boxing will be taking away from his mma fights that much, if he just wants to get paid with a one time deal
What's so weak about this comment? Lol.
U mean the possible fights he could have at 170? but what if Shields wins the GSP fight? he dont want to fight his "brother", sooooo he'll prolly just move up to middle weight... oh wait the scared **** couldnt make middle weight right? so maybe he should just stay in SF and fight the lower comp/get BS stoppages against legit fighters... but dont get me wrong i respect Diaz and im not calling him bad but if he isnt willing to fight a teammate just because their are "friends" he doesnt deserve a title shot at the UFC title weather shields is the champ or not!
All Diaz has to do is smile for the camera and be patient--and big fights and wheelbarrows of cash will come his way in the next two years.
Is that so hard? Dana White plainly stated that all Nick has to do is play the 'game' and good things will happen. This doesn't mean he has to be someone he is not--but only 'tone it down' a little in front of the cameras.
Probably the big sticking point, not mentioned officially, is that he will have to stop taking medical marijuana so he can pass the Athletic Commission's drug screening.
I think when the time comes, they will probably eventually unify the SF and UFC straps. If GSP is still champ by then, I think they should have that fight.
Nick said he would be happy to be number two in the world if Shields beat GSP.
Interesting point to make, your right I don't think his stock will go down if he loses in a boxing match.
After thinking about it for the past week, i really dont think boxing is for Diaz. True he has very good hands but like you said his hands are low and his chin is high and thats a perfect set up for a KO. Nick has been dropped multiple times and in mma he can recover by keep the guy in his guard when he jumps in to finish. In boxing if nick got dropped like he did with Daley they would quickly stand him up and Diaz wouldve probably got KTFO. I like nick but he should definately stick with MMA
If I ran this joint I'd give you a job. Seriously man and you've made some wonderful points. However I don't believe Nick Diaz could beat Fernando Vargas man. To Vargas' credit, he's a decent fighter who just couldn't beat guys when it came to the big fight.
Nick is a flurry / volume puncher, but like I said man if he fights a guy who has dedicated his life to the sweet science, he'll be able to find holes in Diaz' flurries.
If he enters this world of fighting, he's going to really have be focused, and dedicated on correcting his bad boxing habits. He can have hands low, but he better work on some head movement and foot work. Don't want to have his chin tested even with the thicker gloves.
Diaz needs to fight in a similiar style to Tommy Hearns, use that reach! Keep those guys trying to get in close at bay with a nice lanky jab. Dude comes in close, hit him with a nice chopping right =D
You could be right about that, Vargas' heart might not be into this anymore. He might even be fighting for a desperate paycheck actually =S
Terrible, just terrible....Vargas was supposed to be one of the greats too man, what a shame his career has turned into.
Nice breakdown Edub. I would agree with everything above. Diaz main assets are #1 cardio, #2 cardio, # 3 a granite chin, #4 his work ethic.
As a great MMA boxer Diaz has shown incredible hands. Not boxing hands but he wasn t boxing. Seems obvious to me this kid works his ass off. He has natural ability the main one being able to concentrate and train. That's half the battle. He already shows promising boxing style.
I can already imagine how hard he would train at the technical aspects to cross over. To judge him only on his mma stance and performance doesn't present a clear picture of what he could be.
I'm all for letting people do what they want to do. I think he can only benefit from this decision especially financially. I don't really see how this can be bad for him at all. But... selfishly I would like him to stay in MMA because there are so many fights that I still want to see. I just hope he gets paid because it seems like that is what he is after.
I think that payday he is looking for will come in MMA, I really believe it. For legacy's sake, he may not be the same fighter if he jumps back and forth.
I'm not sure he can make as much in MMA ESPECIALLY if the UFC and SF merge. In my opinion, and let me stress its only my opinion haha, when they merge he will get laid on by GSP, Fitch, and possibly Kos. Nick is on a hell of a run but I think he will get his share of losses in the UFC. He has the potential to beat them all but realistically I don't see it. I think the potential is there to make a ton of money in boxing barring he wins his fights with a few MMA fights sprinkled in.
Great article on one of most entertaining guys MMA, check that, combat sports, has ever seen.
As for Diaz chances as a pro boxer. His conditioning, reach and technique are enough to make him a formidable opponent for some quality professional boxers, BUT in terms of beating top guys, I would only give him a chance against guys he matches up with extremely well. I'd really be interested to see if he could set the kinda pace he does in MMA in boxing, but against top 5 guys I think they would simply be too much for him.
Very true.
The fact that he is such a phenomenal grappler in combination with his amazing striking makes him one of the best welterweights out there. He should stay with MMA. There will be hopefully more interesting fights to come in MMA...GSP...
If his next fight is going to be in SF, then hell yes he should go to boxing. He needs to be on a UFC PPV card Main or Co-main event if he wants the big dough. I like this whole situation though be honest, put a little pressure on the Zuffa brass to make a move! Show me the money!
Let's not be so quick to judge. None of us know how skilled and how technical his boxing is. We know his striking in mma is amazing. But we know nothing of his boxing. Unless he starts destroying boxers, I see him doing two or three fights before continuing his mma warpath.
nick would lose against any boxer skilled enough to make the payday worth while. i dint think people realize the diffrence between boxing in mma and pure boxing. nick has zero head movement crappy footwork and overall poor defense.
How many of us could honestly say we'd reject that much of a pay hike though?
I think your really missing the point of Diaz transition to be honest. He just wants to receive more and work less, period. Hes on of the best fighters at MMA but he loves to party and fighting at MMA doesn't allow that as much as boxing. Sure, boxers need to train but they dont train as hard as MMA fighters I assure you that.
Ive been following box prior to MMA and I even competed as a teenager. Granted I didnt trained with any big names but I did trained with professional boxers and the work they put in cant be compared with the MMA professionals im training now!
So, apart from the chances Nick may or may not have, hes just focusing on working less and gaining more and not many can blame him Im sure, but as MMA fans, we would love for him to stay as a MMA fighter since hes one of the best out there!
I don't think Nick Likes to party. Not sure where you got that from. He smOkes weed but that doesn't mean he parties. The conditioning he does is on his own accord. I have rarely heard of fighters with that much initiative. Competing in triatholones and fighting 3 times a year doesn't give him anytime to "party".
I think Nick is looking for money for the effort he puts in not in any way trying to work less to get more. He may want to work less but not so he can go to all night benders.
On another note, nice article man, very well wright as usual, it shows your passion for both sports and your flair in writing articles related with them!
That said, I think your exaggerating about the Victor Ortiz vs Andre Berto fight mate, granted it had a frenetic pace at start and was a brilliant slug fest with numerous knock downs, but it mellowed out on the last 4-5 rounds were the fighters were dead tired (Berto seemed about to fall at some points).
Also the fight lacked a lot in boxing technique, the fighters showed heart and Ortiz wanted to prove everyone he wasn't the underdog and came with a fury that a few though i possessed, but it wasn't a technical fight at all, specially when you compare with other (even recent) fights...
As always, IMO ofc...
Thank you Drago, I appreciate the compliments. As for Ortiz / Berto, I was merely very briefly describing the fight to our Lowkick readers. Didn't want to write an extra 500 words to describe the fight in detail, but you hit the nail on the head. Wonderful fight though, I'd say Boxing match of 2011 so far.
Morales / Maidana was an awesome fight, Rios / Acosta I haven't seen yet but I should. Look at us talking Boxing on an MMA site =D
I think Nick Diaz is self-destructive out of habit.
Dana White put it very plainly--many times--yet still Nick doesn't get it.
Play the game. All that means is do the media interviews--and don't be too outrageous--don't fight with spectators--don't get in fights in the hospital. It probably means stop taking medical marijuana, since Athletic Commissions still unfairly class the drug as prohibitited--and even sometimes erroneously call it a performance enhancing drug.
All he has to do is smile for the camera, and he will need a wheel barrow to take the cash he earns to deposit it in a bank.
But now that opportunity has come to his door knocking--what will Nick do? He will probably piss away the golden chances that are offered to him.