Nick Diaz arrives fashionably late to the UFC 137 Conference Call
Posted on October 19, 2011, 02:58 PM by Joey Santosus
The UFC hosted a Media Conference Call today ahead of next weekends UFC 137 fight card, which was scheduled to include both headliners, BJ Penn and Nick Diaz.
Noticeably absent for the majority of the call, however, was the Cesar Gracie Fighter, Diaz, who was unable to be located at the time of the scheduled media commitment.
"Respectfully, I'm not going to get into specifics, but we've been in constant contact with Cesar Gracie and he is still searching for Nick at the moment and that's where we'll leave it," said UFC executive Dave Sholler.
Scholler's remarks were eerily similar to those of UFC President Dana White's several weeks prior at a UFC 137 Pre-Fight Press Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unable to be found after failing to appear for multiple media obligations, Diaz was abruptly stripped of the opportunity to challenge Georges St. Pierre for the Welterweight title. Instead, he would now face Penn in the co-main event - or so we thought.
In yet another unexpected turn of events, news broke less than 24-hours ago that a knee injury had forced the Champion to withdraw from his match-up, once again making Diaz one half of the card's headlining bout. Unlike St. Pierre, however, who was vocal about his displeasure with what seemed to be a lack of dedication on Diaz's part, Penn says he's not bothered by "The Stockton Bad Boy's" erratic behavior.
"Nick is Nick, he's going to do what he does," said Penn. "He doesn't change and that doesn't have nothing to do with me. He does always show up for the fight, so I don't think we have to worry about all of that stuff. I'm a fan of Nick Diaz and I've been a fan since before he was in the UFC. I know him and his brother Nate personally and whatever they do, they're themselves. The only thing that will be bothering me is when Nick Diaz is punching me in the nose in the octagon, thats the only time he will bother me."
Showing up fashionably late, Diaz arrived seemingly puzzled by the call. "You know what, I didn't even know there was a call," Diaz insisted. "What happened? Nobody told me there was a call. I didn't know anything about it, it's a simple as that. I didn't get any notice for this call. I didn't know about it until about 15 minutes ago."
While it remains unclear how or where the lines became crossed, Diaz maintains that he does his job and does it well, and that job is to fight.
"I don't know whats going to happen with me, but it's not going to make a difference whether or not I whine and cry about it or panic to get things done," Diaz explained. "I'm just going to do what I always do: train and when it's time to fight go fight. My job is to fight, so I have to fight when I'm told to fight. And that's what I do, that's what I do well. ... I didn't make any mistakes as far as training and doing what I do. I've been in there putting in 100% and I've always thought that was what's important. People want to see fights, they want to see good fights and good fighters. That's what I'm trying to bring to the table."
UFC 137 is set to take place October 29th from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. BJ Penn and Nick Diaz will headline the stacked fight card, while a Heavyweight showdown between rising Heavyweight contender Matt Mitirone and Cheick Kongo will serve as co-main event.
Further Reading: Nick Diaz camp calls for BJ Penn to accept a five round fight at UFC 137
Comments
If being late wasn't a big deal then they would just call it partially present. It is what it is.....[shakes head in disbelief].....you try being late for a job every time and see if "it is what it is".
you chose him showing up as a topic! not the fact that these guys are gonna fight it out and the similair style! how about bj penn stepping in to fight the towers again! how about the fact that they show ultimate respect for each other! they are both carefull in what they say about each other! so they know each others strenghts! diaz how ever is not worried about bj,s power or getting knocked out! where is that hungry bj ? thirst for blood bj?
hmmm, lol. I don't think he took it personally, I think he wonders just how fast those synapses are NOT firing.
Nick has some balls, after all that happened he still doesnt give a ****....one of the reason y i'm Diaz brother fan
its not that he has balls hes just that stupid he doesn't get the gravity of his last antics
some people will never grow up even at 28.
he didnt "remember" ( not know ) there was a conference call, because when he was first told about it, he was stoned out his gourd.
Good point TJbad13. I was almost like "here we go again."
I can see how you may not enjoy aspects of your job, but when the company is paying you to fight and they ask you to attend these additional events, I think there needs to be a sense of responsibility to fulfill those requests despite what you think of them.
I really like Nick as a fighter, but he needs to grow up.
If Nick loses this fight, it is possible he will be fired.
If he wins, Dana might rethink his bout with GSP, and give Nick to Fitch in a contender's bout.
Nick is not that stupid--especially when surrounded by minders. Nick knows he is the main event now, so he is confident his antics will be allowed--for this fight.
Dana White's greed is Nick's only protection now.
Good point. Most other fighters may have seen the boot if they didn't show up at a press conference, instead Nick gets to fight and now on a main event no less. Dana is really hoping to cash it in it seems.
you act as if you have to get all your mma news from this site. you do know it's possible for people to watch shit on ufc.com right? quit bitching about it not being here. you act as if no one can see the damn thing at all.
um im not attack with a bias i'm using common ****ing sense.and i never attacked nick diaz. i corrected your stupidity. but if you want me to attack nick diaz i will.
you say he is a professional and doesn't go looking for fights.
hmm then why is it that everytime he opens his mouth he talks shit about gsp and other fighters who won't fight him in the streets.
he is nothing but a thug.
Nick Diaz is getting better, at least he is coming to the press conferences late for 15 min, but it's already an improvement.
Lets take the emotion out of it here. Nick has a job. A really cool job that pays him a lot of money. His job has a job description. The main descritpion is for him to fight, The other stuff requires him to show up for interviews, talk to the media, go to fan expos etc..... and it probably says somewhere in that contract that he signs and agrees to to get paid all that money that he will be reasonably on time. If he signs the deal and gets paid the money he has a responsibility as a fighter and a man to meet those obligations. Good fighter or not he's not meeting those obligations. How's he gonna act if he's the champ?
And I don't know what you all are talking about the article was clear as day Joey I wasn't confused at all. What the hell is thread anyway I just read words formed together in paragraphs which all made sense to me.
make a new rule... kind of like the one where the title contender doesnt make weight in a champion fight, he gets to fight the champ but the title isnt on the line. If Diaz gets a title shot but refuses to cooperate they should tell him he can fight the Champ but cant win the title unless he does these press conferences
Give me a break guys. This is the kind of crap that ruins the sport. No one cares about press conferences. They are a nice bonus but I would rather watch a guy that trains well than is a p r machine. If the ufc is running a business they have handlers and p r people to handle personalities. However, Dana acts more like a gangster sometimes. It's my opinion that the sport is no longer growing like it should because of his don king antics. He had his place now it's time for a better business man to take over. One who has far less ego.
1 think is clear to me, nick diaz, isn't wright in the head, maybe autism or something.
Stop licking his nuts, he's a great fighter and an absolute moron for messing up his own career !
(there's something wrong with his mind,
if ya don't agree, there's something wrong with your mind to.)
He has to train, fight and show up on a press conference, and he will gain a lot of money, fans and a legacy, to just not show up or showing up late and the way he gives interviews (looking behing him all the time) are clear signs of being mentally ill imo.
After nick loses to penn i'm expecting a quick downfall, because the boy is just unworkable !
Nick doesn't need anyone to mess up his career, he's doing a great job himself !
No SHT dude. Which is why the politics are so stupid. I personally don't care about press conferences. I don't know anyone who does. Except fanboys with posters. I also don't care how many people watch the sport if they are fkn retards. Good sustainable growth takes time.
Who is the contact person for Nick? Is it himself or Cesar Gracie?
It sounds that Cesar Gracie is his voice. If it is, and Nick is claiming he didnt know there was a Conference Call, if I were the UFC, I would call both of them both out on the carpet to see who screwed up. Is Cesar screwing up and not notifying his fighter beforehand or is Nick straight up lying.
Dont let this go if your the UFC...Put this crap to closure now and quick, otherwise Nick is going to continue in being an idiot. He is a great fighter and knows how to do his job in the cage but he needs to be responsible as a professional athlete.
this guy needs to stop bunning
Diaz is a legend-
he is not a **** fighter, we don't need to hear a pre media **** fest hype...Leave the **** alone if he doesnlt want to speak shit at a conference.....We are here to watch fights