Post UFC 143: Four different routes for Nick Diaz
Posted on February 7, 2012, 05:18 PM by Evan Holober
Nick Diaz lost a hotly contested decision Saturday night to Carlos Condit. This no doubt has thrown the dynamo for a loop considering he would have had a date with GSP lined up had he taken the win (and the interim title). In fact, he seemed so disgusted with fighting after the way he lost the match that he subsequently retired from MMA. Knowing his history of brash decisions we are only left to hope that he goes back on that plan, and keeps scrapping.
If Cesar Gracie is able to talk his brooding brawler into staying in the hurt business there is a wealth of opponents available for Nick to bounce back against. Top contenders to prospects on the precipice of title contention await the Stockton psycho. Even a few opportunities in boxing would quench this writer’s thirst to see Diaz in a combat sport.
Here are some decent opportunities for Diaz to get back on track (or fall further away from the limelight):
The pre-fight smack talking from both fighters should be enough for anybody to want these two motor mouths matched up. Koscheck might be the only person in MMA outside of Chael Sonnen that could hang with Diaz in the banter department. This would be a fight between two former title challengers, and the winner would be more than ready for a shot at interim champ Carlos Condit. It could also go a long way in answering the question of how Diaz reacts to a top tier wrestling game (since he hasn’t needed to in close to 6 years).
Rory MacDonald
Nick Diaz fights on anger. It is his main motivation when it comes to entering the Octagon on fight night (not a career motivator). What better way to get his blood boiling then pitting him against the kid (he’s still just 22 years old) that treated his little brother like a rag doll when they fought last year? Rory would be a bit of a step down for Diaz, but make no mistake it would not be an easy fight for him.
TUF season one winner, Diego Sanchez, first took on Nick back in 2005. He planted the “Loose Cannon from Lodi” (last one I promise) on his back routinely over the 3 rounds they fought. However, Diaz was never in any serious trouble and spent the majority of the pre-fight and post-fight saying not so nice things about “The Nightmare”. It would be quite interesting to see how much both evolved in a rematch seven years after the original.
Anybody in boxing’s talent-rich Super Middle-weight division (168 lbs)
I’ve been saying this for close to three years now; Nick Diaz has the best boxing in MMA. He judges distance like nobody in the sport. His power is grossly underrated. He attacks the body with unmatched tenacity. His head movement keeps him away from strong counters, and his chin is made of the same metal fused with Wolverine’s skeleton. If Nick needs to find something to get excited about after losing out on a huge opportunity, he should look no further than the squared circle. I’m sure there are a few guys in boxing that would love to shut Diaz’s mouth, and in my humble opinion, the fan reaction to the first top tier MMA fighter taking part in a boxing match (with a top 20 caliber guy) would be through the roof. Guys like Librado Andrade and Ricardo Mayorga would be perfect for Diaz.
Comments
I'd like to see him against the winner of Koscheck / Sanchez and then the winner of that against Condit / GSP
has anyone seen photos of Daiz? how is leg is? ect ect
He's rematching Condit, it's been confirmed by Dana White. I enjoyed the first fight and am pumped to see the rematch.
Rory Macdonald should fight for the interm belt against Condit in the summer.
He's going to suprise alot of viewers on his performance because the media hype hasn't got to him yet
And we all know HALF the people on this site just follow the media hype.. :(
Everybody know about Rory because all Canadian's are great ;-)
That might be pointless, I don't know if Macdonald and GSP would fight each other. They both train at Tristar and GSP has said several times he doesn't believe in fighting teammates.
Nick has a very similar style to Nate albeit he is a bigger version. Rory destroyed Nate. I am not saying that Rory is better than Nick(yet) but it is a very bad matchup. I don't think that it would go much different.
The size makes a pretty big difference, Rory admitted that himself after the fight with Nate. Plus, Nick's JJ is better than Nate's; in a 5 round fight I would expect Nick to get the win, though if the fight was 3 rounds Rory would have a good chance of getting a decision.
i would love to see him fight ether Jake ellenberger or roy and who ever wins gets shot at ether the winner of gsp, condict.. and if gsp takes longer the winnder gets a shot at the inter belt
Nick Diaz needs to mellow out --smoke a few Fat Ones, Go Mountain Bike Riding and Hang out and clear his Head with some Friends--before getting back to beating the crap out of fighters. Nick's O.K. Dude--
the ufc has always been bad luck for nick when it comes to decisions. the way he looks at fights is totally different than the way the judges do. i tend to look at fights the same way as nick and thats why i don't believe he has lost a fight in the ufc yet. to me, all his losses have been bad decisions. he beat the shit out of karo parisian. he rolled sean sherk around like he was beating on a midget. joe riggs and diego punch the mat all night long, but since they were on top they both got decisions. and now we got condit, who i respect greatly, run from him. and condit has never used this style. to me he's known as a finisher on the ground or the feet. he was scared to mix it up with the so called light hitting diaz. was scared homie. but one thing they all have in common, is they want nothing to do with nick diaz again.
rematch
The bottom line is that if Nick needed that big payday to justify his MMA expierience and continuation, then all he needed to do was win the fight with Condit and he would have gotten that 7 figure payday.
I'll never tell a man what to do with his life or even speculate on how much money he has socked away, but Nick has nothing to prove to anyone but himself. He has always been haunted by the spotlight and fighting. It was an end to a means and a saving grace for him. I think he is much happier teaching.
Find a good woman, or talk to close family and friends, and do what makes you happy man. There aren't many second chances in life and I think you have missed out on a whole lot of love and living while being dedicated to your sport. At the end of the day, Nick is the only one who has to look in the mirror and go to bed at night.
Hey dropkickmurphy,
Nate is taller and walks around heavier than nick. He just cuts more weight. He just dropped down a weight class last year. Nate is the bigger Diaz brother.
there identical pal...both 6 ft with a 76 in reach
Then can you imagine how scary Nick would be at 155? Be like BJ when he first went down and was still motivated.
he did drop to 155 in 2007 but went back to 170
The fights against Gomi and Noons were at 160, considering how long Nick has been fighting at welterweight now, making 155 would be a real biatch of a weight cut.
C'mom Nick put yourself together don't beat yourself up and comeback stronger ever to prove that you're a million dollar baby to your fans .hahaha (:D
Why would Diaz fight josh koscheck? Diaz needs a top 5 fighter or why even bother, Jon Fitch makes sense, if Sanchez beats Ellenberger that fight would make sense aswell. Rory Macdonald would be a great fight and the one I want to see most.
Why is jon Fitch a top 5 fighter and koscheck not?
"His head movement keeps him away from strong counters"
HUH?
Can you not read? Go watch the Scott Smith fight. When he uses it he takes little punishment.
Kos Vs Diaz would be a great fight Kos like to stand and bang which will play into Diaz strength. I think Diaz will win that fight since Kos does not have a lot of variation in his attack.
so your saying that you want to see this fight because Diaz has a better chance of winning?.. then against someone like ... Rory..? let me guess.... your a big Fedor fan too right?...
the only people who arent fedor fans are people who dont really like mma
theyre people who like the ufc not mma