Feb 1, 2012 - There may be no more polarizing figure in mixed martial arts than UFC welterweight contender Nick Diaz. Some fans adore him. Others can't stand him. And there are some who simply scratch their heads and throw their hands up, completely baffled by the things he says and does.
Journalists have agonized over keyboards trying to explain his personality and motivations, to almost no avail. Diaz is a riddle. But to hear him tell it, it shouldn't be quite so difficult to understand him.
"You see me. What you see is what you get," he said during Wednesday's open workouts in Las Vegas. "You get real martial arts, you get real fighting, you get a real warrior mentality. Some people aren’t mature enough to handle it. This isn't soccer. i have no problem being sportsmanlike about this whole thing. I understand it’s a sporting event. But to me this is a fight. I’m not going to let things change that to help this sport become what it is. I think this sport is what it is. I don't worry about looking good. I do what I've got to do to survive, to keep my teeth in my head, and my head on my shoulders. I apologize to whoever can’t put that together and understand that."
That remarkably lucid description at least defines Nick Diaz, the fighter, which is perhaps all we can truly hope for.
Diaz (26-7, 1 no contest), who faces Carlos Condit in an interim welterweight title fight at Saturday's UFC 143, was his usual self during the media scrum, sometimes mesmerizing, sometimes mystifying, and often, both.
He spent time talking about his interest in triathlons, his disinterest in pandering to cameras, and of course, the fight.
He voiced no disappointment that he wasn't facing welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, who is currently on the mend after knee surgery, saying that his upcoming bout with Condit "just feels like the next fight," and nothing more.
But he also praised Condit's fighting style. While he has criticized St-Pierre for trying to win on points rather than going for the finish, he offered up no such issues with Condit, an aggressive, well-rounded opponent who has won 12 of his last 13 fights, including 11 finishes.
That type of style is remarkably similar to Diaz's, so it's no surprise he likes what he sees.
"I think the way I fight and the way my opponent fights, we're both two guys that are ranked top level, top 10 and we’re both looking to get ahead on damage more so than worried about going on top or bottom," he said. "We just want to win the fight and it’s pretty much more a realistic fighting style. And that’s what I’m about, is about being realistic."
The winner takes the interim title and could set up a match with the returning St-Pierre later this year. St-Pierre has gone on the record saying he hopes that Diaz wins because he hopes to fight him down the line. The popular champion cited Diaz's "disrespect" towards him as motivation, calling him unprofessional and arrogant.
But Diaz says he's just being who he is, not who anyone else wants him to be.
"People try to say, 'Nick Diaz, he’s crazy or not crazy or fake crazy,'" he said. "I’m like, 'Hey, bro, what you see is what you get.' I’m not out here trying putting on an act like I'm crazy. In my opinion, everyone else is crazy. They’re the ones who put on an act for you, doing what they're told in front of the camera. The camera gives them a line and they say it 10 times over again, and then whoever goes back and they can [edit] it out. They turn these guys into robots. I’m just not going to be that guy. Don't tell me I'm crazy. I'm out here acting natural. I'm the only one here being realistic out here about this sort of thing."
31 comments
Comments
He seems like a real fighter, aggressive when it comes to fighting thats… and doesn’t like cameras
by SweepDaLeg on Feb 1, 2012 5:34 PM EST reply actions
thanks man.
that made my day. i am a huge diaz fan. i am made happy hearing diaz lay out his principles. he has a genuine martial approach to the study and execution of martial arts technique.andhe fits it into the rules of sport brilliantly. he focus is on intent.
i can dig that, and its for the betterment of the sport if that was the philosophy of the majority when it came to a fighters having a more martial intent behind their technique. and not one of sport.
by XingYi on Feb 1, 2012 6:09 PM EST reply actions
That's why I like him so much
He is genuine with his feelings even if others don’t understand. He is different and embraces it. I loved watching him fight Zaromskis live at Strikeforce Miami. It was just awesome to watch him walkout.
Minowa is a little guy but he's very good to break a fighters foot and my foot is very special to me.
by dedstrk316 on Feb 1, 2012 6:51 PM EST up reply actions
the only fighter i get emotionally invested in.
sounds gay after i say it but oh well… its the truth. i get to to root for diaz and the giants on the same weekend. titles for both i hope. haha.
by XingYi on Feb 1, 2012 6:55 PM EST up reply actions
OH PLEASE WIN GIANTS!!! PLEASE!
I get you though. I used to get so nervous before and Anderson Silva fight that I’d almost puke. That went away after I realized there’s very little chance of him losing. This fight though, I really like both of these fighters, but I’m rooting for Diaz. He’s the anti hero without trying. It could be that I acted like him when I was in my 20’s and early 30’s so I can relate.
Minowa is a little guy but he's very good to break a fighters foot and my foot is very special to me.
by dedstrk316 on Feb 1, 2012 7:03 PM EST up reply actions
i found a video recorded of the scrum on BE.
thx Roth. that was great.
now lerts see if helwani gets to chat with nick this week.
by XingYi on Feb 1, 2012 6:58 PM EST up reply actions
New Diaz Fan
I was one of the people that didn’t like either of the Diaz brothers for a long time, but after seeing the 30 minute interview between Nick and Ariel prior to the BJ Penn fight, I realized that I was wrong about him all along. Seeing Nick open up the way he did (and in a way only Nick can) really shed some light on what is going on in his head. Getting to see the inner workings of his mind made everything he does and says make a whole lot more sense.
At this point, with that extra insight, every time I read a Nick Diaz quote, I’m just floored by what a grounded, and, as he says, real person he is. Whether it means anything to Nick or not, I’ll be rooting for the guy here on out.
by leftoversalad on Feb 1, 2012 6:15 PM EST reply actions
what is this crap
These changes are not for the better I can only open half of the articles and the old comment area was better wtf SBnation you wrecked my favorite site
by mullet2.0 on Feb 1, 2012 6:52 PM EST reply actions
You'll get used to the SBN commenting system.
It’s far superior to the old message board format, IMO
"God loves violence... Why else would there be so much of it? It's in us. It's what we are. We wage war, we burn sacrifices, and pillage and plunder and tear at the flesh of our brothers. And why? Because God gave us violence to wage in his honor... There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?"
- Warden of Ashecliffe Hospital
by ElliotMatheny on Feb 1, 2012 7:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Glad to see a familiar face on this old format for me
but on a new site. thanks for finally changing it people at SB
I’m not resting until I’m officially Anderson Silva status.- Jon "Bones" Jones
by AfroSamurai on Feb 2, 2012 4:20 AM EST up reply actions
It's the best and most sophisticated commenting system in digital media
You’ll get used to it. I promise.
Follow @SBNLukeThomas
by Luke Thomas on Feb 1, 2012 7:30 PM EST up reply actions
Just wanted to say that I think it’s really cool that the writers are commenting on these articles as well.
by grizzly907 on Feb 1, 2012 8:03 PM EST up reply actions
For the next 3-5 months. LOL. Silly defense.
by YaleJD on Feb 3, 2012 8:39 AM EST up reply actions
Being several months ahead of the competition could be considered quite an edge, no?
There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?
by ElliotMatheny on Feb 3, 2012 3:34 PM EST up reply actions
Silly defense.
Just because it’s “the best and most sophisticated” (whatever that means) doesn’t mean they are “ahead” of anyone. I would assume everyone will have this “great” system much more quickly (if not already). Also, we are talking about a “commenting system”. Isn’t this site going under anyway?
by YaleJD on Feb 3, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
My impression was that MMAFighting is now the flagship MMA site of SBNation
And seriously… this commenting system is so much better than the old message board format. Conversations are much easier to track, much less loading and sifting through comment pages, etc.
I only ever use SBN anymore for sports news because of how consolidated everything is.
There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?
by ElliotMatheny on Feb 4, 2012 4:44 PM EST up reply actions
You’ll like it once you get used to it.
Don't follow in my footsteps I walk into walls
by MattParker117 on Feb 1, 2012 7:53 PM EST up reply actions
I prefer it
Makes back-and-forth much simpler to read
Please donate what you can to the Daniel James Miller Foundation.
Ruining your special night roster: (mostly because I forget who's on my team)
Earl Montclair (Captain), Me, KJ_ZametovStPierre, AboveThisFire, RobertCowan, sunyue, Farthammer, trice, DirtyML, Rutager, and mountaineers101
by halitosis on Feb 1, 2012 8:03 PM EST up reply actions
Awesome! Glad I can comment here now.
I agree with Diaz- real fighting is about harming your opponent. I hope that we can revise the current scoring system to reflect that. The “effective aggression” and “cage control” metrics are beyond meaningless.
Once fighters are rewarded for doing damage, and admonished for stalling, then MMA will be the sport it’s meant to be- the sport of fighting.
"God loves violence... Why else would there be so much of it? It's in us. It's what we are. We wage war, we burn sacrifices, and pillage and plunder and tear at the flesh of our brothers. And why? Because God gave us violence to wage in his honor... There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?"
- Warden of Ashecliffe Hospital
by ElliotMatheny on Feb 1, 2012 7:22 PM EST reply actions
Great point
Follow @SBNLukeThomas
by Luke Thomas on Feb 1, 2012 7:30 PM EST up reply actions
How would you score that?
The fighter’s intent to inflict damage? Aggression is interpreted (to my understanding) as damage inflicted. I think it just ends up being bad judging that gives you decisions akin to Sanchez/Kampmann
Please donate what you can to the Daniel James Miller Foundation.
Ruining your special night roster: (mostly because I forget who's on my team)
Earl Montclair (Captain), Me, KJ_ZametovStPierre, AboveThisFire, RobertCowan, sunyue, Farthammer, trice, DirtyML, Rutager, and mountaineers101
by halitosis on Feb 1, 2012 8:04 PM EST up reply actions
I think they aggression is given to whoever throws more, like Leonard Garcia. It looks good in the shitty judges eyes for some reason. It’s akin to the crowd cheering when someone throws a head kick, even if its clearly blocked.
I think damage should simply be the judges interpretation of of the combination of:
- how hard a strike is thrown
- how hard a strike lands
- how the fighter reacts to the strike landed
There’s obviously guys who don’t shy away from punches (i.e. Nik Lentz this past weekend) but I think its easy to see through that and how much damage it caused in reality.
I do have to say that facial damage should never be an indicator for how damage strikes were.
"Believe me I have my own demon in my had. People has no idea how dark I am in my head sometime. Nick Diaz deserves to be beat down."- Georges St Pierre
Follow me on Twitter if you like MMA, baseball, and moderately funny people: @TimBernier31
INEPT coming for the season 2 BECW title.
by Tim Bernier on Feb 1, 2012 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, and it doesn't just have to be limited to strikes.
Hard slams are definitely an effective technique to inflict harm. Certain dominant positions involve one fighter driving all their weight onto a vulnerable area/ pressure point- a strong crossface, scarf hold side control, body anaconda from back mount, etc.
I also think that certain near submissions should be considered. I always like to use Rafael Dos Anjos’ round 2 calf slicer on Tyson Griffin as an example; it was cranked enough to really damage Tyson’s leg, but not enough to draw a tap (physical or verbal) or a ref stoppage (technical submission). Also, Tyson Griffin’s round 3 kneebar on Frankie Edgar is a good example too; he cranked it for well over a minute, and you could tell that it was painful & damaging.. but Edgar toughed it out.
"God loves violence... Why else would there be so much of it? It's in us. It's what we are. We wage war, we burn sacrifices, and pillage and plunder and tear at the flesh of our brothers. And why? Because God gave us violence to wage in his honor... There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?"
- Warden of Ashecliffe Hospital
by ElliotMatheny on Feb 1, 2012 11:06 PM EST up reply actions
Absolutely agreed. You can’t just ignore the fact that someone was incredibly close to finishing the fight like that.
"Believe me I have my own demon in my had. People has no idea how dark I am in my head sometime. Nick Diaz deserves to be beat down."- Georges St Pierre
Follow me on Twitter if you like MMA, baseball, and moderately funny people: @TimBernier31
INEPT coming for the season 2 BECW title.
by Tim Bernier on Feb 2, 2012 1:22 AM EST up reply actions
See, for me, it's not even about being "close to finishing,"
so much as it’s about the damage that a submission hold being cranked like that does.
There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?
by ElliotMatheny on Feb 2, 2012 3:12 AM EST up reply actions
You can't reward mere intent.
You have to award what the fighters actually accomplish. Aggression-
I personally don’t think that aggression should be awarded in a fight, unless the other fighter really is fleeing from you (ala Kalib Starnes/ Quarry); and in that case, you should PUNISH the guy who’s fleeing, not REWARD the guy who’s walking forward, just for the fact that he’s moving forward. Whether you’re backing up or walking the opponent down, it’s the man who does more harm that is winning.
"God loves violence... Why else would there be so much of it? It's in us. It's what we are. We wage war, we burn sacrifices, and pillage and plunder and tear at the flesh of our brothers. And why? Because God gave us violence to wage in his honor... There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?"
- Warden of Ashecliffe Hospital
by ElliotMatheny on Feb 1, 2012 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
I think Diaz has a good point about being realistic
No pretension, no BS, just technique, heart, and skill. I respect that. You don’t have to like him or his attitude but the dude is a warrior and it shows in the cage. If I was stopping guys left and right, including dominating BJ Penn, I don’t think anyone has the right to tell me who I should be or act like. It’s about being the best in the world, not photo ops with the media.
by Kid Dinomite on Feb 1, 2012 8:31 PM EST reply actions
Love Nick Diaz, I bet he’s a chill dude to smoke a bowl with lol
by Rob2507 on Feb 1, 2012 10:00 PM EST reply actions
Really hope he wins i'd love to see the Diaz brothers with atleast one belt this year
hoping Nate gets his shot later
I’m not resting until I’m officially Anderson Silva status.- Jon "Bones" Jones
by AfroSamurai on Feb 2, 2012 4:38 AM EST reply actions
Nick Diaz Complaints
After watching the UFC Promotion of the Condit-Diaz Fight, I don’t understand Nick’s disapproval. The program was well done, and it put Diaz , an extremely controversial figure, in a very positive light. To me, Diaz couldn’t have asked for a better promotion.
Frankly, Diaz’ complaints of the UFC promo are still another example of a troubled person who is his own worst enemy. Diaz is an incredibly gifted athlete, period, and I’m in awe of his talent. Unfortunately, his pre-fight vulgar gestures, and his post-fight antics, defy all reasonable norms of professional conduct. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being egotistical and self-confident, but Nick has crossed the line on many occasions…..a line that is contrary to the sportsmanship and professional-conduct standards of the UFC.
Like many fans that respect the sport of MMA, I expect him to win against Condit, but I’ll be rooting against Nick. Until he reforms his conduct, and proves to me that he honestly believes the UFC is NOT solely about Nick Diaz and his talent, I hope he never gets a title shot. IMHO, he does not fit the image and professional-conduct standards of a true UFC Champion.
by WorldlyPatriot on Feb 2, 2012 12:47 PM EST reply actions
In the Words of Diaz himself
“What you see is what you get.” lol dudes not gonna change, get used to him
by Rob2507 on Feb 2, 2012 2:36 PM EST up reply actions
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