Nick Diaz "teaming up" with Andre Ward in preparation for Georges St. Pierre
Posted on August 12, 2011, 05:25 PM by Joey Santosus
"Nick and Nathan Diaz will be joining the camp of Olympic Gold Medalist, Andre Ward. Ward will be fighting in the finals of the “Super Six Tournament” against Carl Froch on the same night that Nick Diaz is set to fight UFC Champion, Georges St. Pierre. Nick and Andre have sparred infrequently for the past 10 years with each man achieving immense success in their respective sport. This (will) be the first time the two fighters collaborate to spar frequently in an official camp. In the history of boxing and MMA, this will mark the first time two champions from these sports have teamed up together. - For more visit DiazBrothers.com
After running through any and all contenders the promotion had to offer, Nick Diaz vacated the Strikeforce 170-pound strap in favor of moving on to bigger and better things. What he got was an instant title shot at UFC Welterweight king-pin Georges St. Pierre at UFC 137.
Currently training under Freddie Roach, St. Pierre has shown proficient striking in his last two outings, shattering Josh Koscheck's orbital bone and battering Jake Shields en-route to taking a lopsided unanimous decision in each bout. Diaz, meanwhile, flirted with making a run at professional boxing prior to signing on with the UFC and also demonstrated effective stand-up in his most recent effort, out-striking British knockout artist Paul Daley to score a first-round TKO victory in April. So what do you think LowKick'ers? With two of the division's greatest of all time now training alongside some of boxing's elite, is it possible that MMA could see the sweet science at its best on October 29th?
Further Reading: Georges St. Pierre sharpens his Boxing with Freddie Roach
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. Photo credit: Francis Specker
Comments
Andre Ward going to teach Diaz take down defence?
Diaz is way further ahead with his submissions than even Jake Shields. Shields is mainly a position grappler and GSP was afraid of his ground game. Diaz had a black belt (Cyborg) tapping out within 20 seconds of being tooken down. GSP will not be the victor here.
I believe that was my first post to ever be weaked over 5 times, but I truly feel Diaz will pull this off.
i think its to simulate gsp's defensive style of boxing..
Nick Diaz is a good fighter but i think right now there's nobody in the division that can beat GSP, good luck to Nick though
wrestling is what Nick needs against GSP, hope this report is just to try to throw GSP off.
Sharp... I still cant wait for the fisticuffs :)
Nick is working on his boxing for who? GSP....GTFO of here. Nick Diaz should be working on his TDD more than anything else, especially when everyone knows what GSP's gameplan is going to be.
I like Nick Diaz a lot man, he may be brash and ****y but the guy can fight man. To be honest though i don't understand his thinking here, his striking is already off the charts and it's common knowledge that he has one of the best submission games out there. I would of thought his main priority would have been drilling his wrestling and TDD man, I hope he knows what he's doing. I actually think he has a good shot at pulling off the upset here, i mean, his striking is good enough to stand and trade with anyone in MMA, GSP included, and the amount of punishment he can take is unreal, he is as hard as hell to finish, and if GSP does take him down he has his awesome ju jitsu skills, which he uses offensively off of his back, to use. GSP is just a man after all and he has been both submited and TKO'd so it's not impossible. I think he has a genuine shot at upsetting everyone and taking the belt, it's definately going to be a war either way.........
1st; Speaking of Koscheck, what is up with him? Did he retire?
2nd; The Shields fight was not lopsided. Shields took two rounds to GSPs three and the striking was pretty close the whole time.
Diaz has had trouble with wrestlers but he is a more dangerous striker than GSP IMHO and has scary BJJ. I am not calling this fight but unless his plan is to stall a lot (which IMO he has never done) George has a real puzzle here. A game plan that doesn't put GSP in Disz's strong range is not going to be easy to come up with.
I was pulling for Jake in that fight, but I'd have to totally disagree. That fight was very much so lopsided imo. Jake Shields did not want to stand with GSP, but he was forced to and was outclassed in the process. I admire his ability to stick around, but until GSP's eye was injured by the eye poke, it was ugly. And even after, St. Pierre was clearly winning. Jake being awarded two rounds is actually pretty inexplicable.
He was getting out pointed but outclassed? It was all 10-9 rounds and Shields was never hurt. It was obvious who won but not because there was any kind of beat down happening.
Koscheck is supposedly moving to MW for his next fight at UFC 139.
diaz needs to be working with cael sanderson for a whole camp not ward
GSP is a better wrestler than Nick. There is absolutely nothing Diaz can do in a couple months to change that. However, he is a great submission artist, and should have an advantage over GSP there. GSP will have to worry about submissions more than ever before.
That leaves the standup. GSP has not been outstruck since his first fights with Matt Serra and BJ Penn. Nick may not be a better striker than GSP, but he probably does have better hands. This may allow him to win the standup exchanges.
When he fought Shields, GSP completely avoided the ground game because it was an unnecessary risk - he knew he had the advantage standing up. I expect him to at least start the fight with Diaz standing, and only take it to the ground if Diaz is beating him there.
My point is that Diaz cannot bring his wrestling to GSP's level. However, he can work to give himself and advantage standing up, and to sharpen his submission skills. Sometimes it's better to work on strengths than weaknesses.
Also, Cael Sanderson is probably pretty busy at PSU.
Call me stupid, moronic or even weak me, but I think GSP is going to knock Diaz out cold. I predict a KO/TKO.
Diaz is too sloppy with his striking (punches in bunches) which will leave him wide open for that straight jab that comes from across the universe and systematically hits its target with pinpoint accuracy. He will utilize that jab to chop Diaz's face up and then an overhand right will connect.
People fail to remember that he can take it, but we get scared when hes in "trouble" since GSP hasn't been in trouble in a long ass time. We have this mentality that he's untouchable. Penn chewed up his face (first fight) and that only motivated him to beat that ass.
I will admit it as a long time follower of GSP and loyal supporter, he will get beat up in this fight, but its his efficiency, technique, strength and precision that will keep him Champion and add Nick to his list of people that he conquered.
The fight will be remembered in one way or another.
bah gsp by decision or sub dont think nick stand a chance
IMO gsp has better wrestling and he is more explosive then Diaz. But what Nick Diaz lacks in wrestling or explosiveness, he makes up in stand-up and subs. Cant really say who will win, but I predict it to be really close fight.
I´m pulling for Diaz tho. :D
It doesn't say he is only training with ward. Diaz has good tdd. Sherk was his last wrestling challenge and he stuffed 10 of 12 tdd attempts. In he Diego fight he reversed and got up from every take down. That was 5 years ago. Since then he has trained with sonnen.
Training with ward for anyone in the ufc is a privilege and anyone would be smart to take his offer.
GSP has faced a higher level competitor in his last few as compared to Diaz, but Diaz has the advantage of having the last guy to fight GSP in his camp. If GSP takes him down, I see him holding position and not taking any chances of getting sub'ed. If he want's to keep it standing, he runs the risk of getting a taste of his medicine and getting jabbed to death by the high volume of strikes the Nick is known to throw. If Shields was able to bloody up George's nose Nick should be able land. Jake is pretty stiff on the standup and I was surprised he was able to get anything through, Nick should do better in that realm. But we all know that GSP will play it safe like he always does. Just hoping that Diaz and company will have figured out a way to tear down GSP's safe strategy and really put him in a fight.