Nate Diaz Skips UFC on FOX 13 Open Workouts In Phoenix
Headed for his first fight in 368 days when he meets surging Rafael dos Anjos in the co-main event of Saturday night’s (Dec. 13, 2014) UFC on FOX 13 from U.S. Airways Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, outspoken UFC lightweight Nate Diaz is apparently taking a page out of his older brother’s book.
The No. 14-ranked Diaz has made his gripes about his contract well known in the media ever since his one-sided starching of Gray Maynard back at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 18 Finale on November 30, 2013. Although he eventually re-signed to face “RDA” at the blockbuster major television card, Diaz complained that he still wasn’t happy with how much he makes.
Today (Wed., Dec. 10, 2014) that may have manifested physically, as Diaz failed to show up for the UFC on FOX 13 open workouts. He, along with dos Anjos and main event participants Junior dos Santos and Stipe Miocic, were the only fighters scheduled for the fan event.
While his no-show most likely won’t affect his ability to fight on Saturday, it’s an eerily similar instance to Nick Diaz’ absence from series of media obligations for that ultimately lead to his removal from his scheduled UFC 137 title fight against then-champion Georges St. Pierre.
The Diaz brothers have clearly marched to the beat of their own drums their entire careers, and nothing they do should really surprise us at this point. Missing an open workout session is actually rather tame in terms of the Stockton bad boys’ antics.
Yet Dana White has said that the Diaz brothers could be much bigger stars than they already are if they would only “play the game.” It must have taken piles of cash to get Nick to come out of “retirement” to meet Anderson Silva in the main event of UFC 183.
Are Nate’s stacks of money on the way, or will the dangerous dos Anjos send him plummeting to his third loss in four fights this weekend?
Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
