Volume fighter. He’s weird punching style and reach allows him to constantly put hands on guys. I bet his excellent cardio and endurance training allows him not to burn his hands out at his insane work rate. It’s very interesting because this means that unless you’re clearly a much more technical boxer with semi decent wrestling (good doubles or singles because clinch takedowns don’t work) than him so you can threaten whenever he enters that close range also defensively, you’ll get eaten alive. I think that’s why KJ killed him in the standup and nullified his TDs. His chin was also impressive but we always knew that. The only thing i like about his attitude is pretty much what john said. He’s always talking about this being a “technical thing” and i love fighters who see mastery of skills above gassed out brawling or “standing and banging.” Very impressed. Every winner impressed me yesterday especially Riggs.

yeah, I HATE Riggs, but he definitely impressed me a lot. Of Course, I always felt that Baroni was a CAN, but still, Riggs displayed skills that I never knew he had. Its obvious that he has improved. I always questioned his work ethic. If he can continue to improve, he will be an asset to strikeforce since they are really thin at 170 lbs.

John, while calling him intelligent is somewhat laughable he is without a doubt a smart fighter. Most of it takes place on a psychological level. He does have that certain mentality that takes him to another eschelon. I really would like to see his name near the top of the P4P list. He has been successful from LW to MW. BJ gets all kinds of pound for pound credit for his appearances in different weight classes while Diaz is actually winning while doing it. Immediately after his fight last night I was thinking a fight between him and the Spider would be legendary. I can only imagine if Diaz would stick his chin out the same way to bait Silva and how Anderson would react to some of the antics. If only we could get that…

Regarding your first post John = EXACTLY

Nick is EXTREMELY technical with his striking and he has a long reach. Those little “pitter pat” punches do not appear to have much on them, but when they land precisely where he wants them to land and keeps them coming in bucnes, they begin to add up – quickly.

Also, as soon as he sees a big whole, he puts some big power into his stikes. He threw a few vicous rights at Smith and had him cringing/crumbling every time.

And, not only do his antics get into his opponents head, but they can’t feal too confident when the fight is 1 minute deep and they have thrown 1 stike and missed, meanwhile Nick has landed 45 strikes. That is demoralizing. So the opponent knows he can’s submit Nick, so thier only option is a KO, however, Nick has never been KO’d.

The most amazing thing is how young Nick Diaz still is.

I’d love to see Diaz destroy that poser Le, Diaz-Lawler II would be another great fight. I’ve never seen Nick look better than he did in these last two fights, he destroyed a legend in Frank Shamrock and a dangerous striker in Scott Smith. The guy is one of the most entertaining personalities in the sport and is as well rounded as you can get, I don’t see how you can’t like the guy. Diaz-Shields would be a dream match but will only happen on the same card as Andy-Machida in my dreams. Unless the impossible happens, I would be quite happy watching him outclass Lawler and Le, if the latter ever bothers to show his face in MMA again.

Yeah David, Diaz has looked AMAZING in his last 2 fights. As a nomad who wandered back in fourth between different divisions, I think he has found a home in the middleweight division. I think he is perfect for the middleweight division. Initially I thought he wasnt going to be strong enough to fight at such a high weight, but he has LOOKED amazing. I would like to see him stay as a middleweight and only fight at a different weight if their is a mega fight available out there. As a middleweight I think he would be favored against pretty much all the top guys that affliction has to offer:
Robbie Lawler
Cung Le
He would destroy Riggs in a rematch (yeah, I know riggs fights at 170 lbs.

I would really like to see Diaz matched up against 1 of DREAM’s top middleweights. for example, Great fights for Diaz would be:
Nick Diaz vs. Jacre or
Nick Diaz vs. Mayhem

I think it might be time for Diaz to return to the UFC WW division. He looks huge for welterweight now and the UFC has so many great fighters at that weight.

I think it’s a mistake for him to move up to MW, he’s already a little soft and he’d be giving away his reach and size advantage.

If Nick would go back to the UFC then yeah he should go to WW.But if he stay with Strikeforce he,can do well at MW.

you guys dont think he could compete with world class middleweights like Jacre or Mayhem? I hope to NEVER see Diaz back in the UFC. I like being able to see Nick fight top fighters from organizations throughout the world, in different divisions and catch weights. Think about the fighters he can face, not being tied down by the exclusive UFC contract:
Mayhem
Jacre
Benkie
Mach Sakurai
Robbie Lawler
Vitor
Cung Le
Matt Lindland
Melvin Manhoef
I would love to see him kick, recently cut from the UFC fighter, Jason “the talented Fairy” McDonald.

I think Mayhem vs. Diaz is a fight that strikeforce needs to put together in this next year. Their personalities are a promoters DREAM. I think they match up well in the stand up….and watching those 2 grapple each other would be amazing to watch!

I agree that if he were to return to the UFC, WW would suite him best…but I hope that he doesnt return to the UFC for at least a couple of years. So many interesting match ups at different weights, in different organizations, on different continents for Nick to be In an exclusive relationship with the UFC.lol

Haha, good post john. I still like some of the UFC WW match-ups better, but there are some sweet fights there. Belfort would be a bad match-up for Diaz. That showboating shit will get you killed against a puncher like Vitor.

He,would definitely get destroyed against Belfort.Sakurai,Lindland and Jacre,would give him a hard time(not sure he,can beat them though).The rest should be a W for him!

I think the list is just as long or longer of the great potential fights in the UFC.

I still don’t know if he can beat top WW/MW guys though.

The thought of Mayhem vs. Diaz makes me giddy. Two of the most animated, well-rounded, talented guys in MMA together in the same ring. I would love it if this found its way onto the Affliction card in August. Hey, ‘the t-shirt guys’ just lost some stock in AA loaning him out to Strikeforce. Maybe they can build it back up with Diaz on loan.