What could have been: Nick Diaz and Bellator FC
by James Kimball on Mar 19, 2010 4:38 PM EDT
Email
Print
Arguably the face of the Strikeforce promotion, welterweight champion Nick Diaz was extremely close to not even being part of the company.
Prior to signing with Elite XC in 2007, and subsequently finding his current home in Strikeforce, Diaz was in deep negotiations with Bellator FC, the same promotion that has recently been making serious moves in the industry and has positioned itself as one of the leading mixed martial arts destinations for fighters everywhere.
GracieFighter.com reports that "Stockton's Finest" was ready to ink his name on the dotted line, but a $50,000 signing bonus that was originally promised to him by Bellator fell through after the promotion unexpectedly decided to scrap signing bonuses for fighters all together at the time.
Left with the option of fighting in the first event for an upstart promotion with little financial resources at the time, or exploring other alternatives in regards to his MMA career, Diaz of course chose to take the more lucrative route.
And who's gonna blame him.
The Cesar Gracie trained fighter has made the most of his time with Strikeforce, and the now defunct Elite XC, having only dropped one bout in his time with the promotions and now finds himself as a character in a video game set to be released later this year.
But it's interesting to think what could have been nonetheless.
15 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Bellator scrapped signing bonuses?
Didn’t Roger Huerta get one? I guess things changed for the company between then and now.
well that's a pretty good guess
or maybe not considering they end the sentence with “at the time” which is a clear indication that things have since changed
did anybody catch the pathetic 7or 8 second promo on cbs during a commercial break of march madness
i personally like strikeforce but the promo went like this. dan henderson one of the world’s greatest mma fighter’s fights april 17th vs jake shields. no picture of shields either. lol. that was it. they either don’t have the money or they are to incompetent on how to do a proper promo.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. I was building a house, I don't deserve this, deserves have nothing to do with it. Bang. "Unforgiven" I drink your milkshake. I drink it up! "There Will BE Blood"
by wolfmanshowlforever on Mar 19, 2010 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
why promote Shields?
no casual fans care about him or even know who he is. I’m hoping Strikeforce is banking on Hendo to win so they can cut shields after he loses.
isnt that the point of promoting? to build interest and recognition and to draw attention to something or someone?
my dream fight would have to be Brock Lesnar vs Jake Shields...and before the fight theres a video of jake slapping brock's wife...then id like to see shields try to gay porn a win over brock using his butt sex merry-go-round tactics...the massacre that would take place would be the greatest thing ever televised...every limb jake has would look like corey hill's leg...god i hate jake shields
by HellaHectic on Mar 19, 2010 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions
It would be terrible
He’s exactly where he needs to be to win fights but still have decent competition. If he signed with Bellator back then, who would he have fought? Nobody I’m willing to watch. His career would have faded into obscurity. Also don’t wait to see him in the UFC anytime soon. As long as he still acts like a punk, Dana White won’t have him back.
I Agree He is Where He Needs to Be.
Nick is one hell of a fighter, he convincingly won me over when he beat Gomi. And has only further solidified that since then.
by AintNoSunshine on Mar 19, 2010 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions
nick diaz would be great to see on bully beatdown.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. I was building a house, I don't deserve this, deserves have nothing to do with it. Bang. "Unforgiven" I drink your milkshake. I drink it up! "There Will BE Blood"
by wolfmanshowlforever on Mar 20, 2010 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions
why would Dana care if he acts like a punk?
Dana acts that way himself sometimes and so do a lot of other current UFC fighters. Dana has a problem with Diaz not promoting things properly. Hell, both Nick and Dana have admitted this is the reason he left the UFC and has not been welcomed back. Dana has been quoted as saying he would love to have Diaz back if he was willing to hype things with the media and make appearances for the company like the other top fighters of the UFC.
no way....
"If I told you I was good, you would think I am boasting. If I told you I was not good, you would know I am lying" Bruce Lee
There is a perfectly good explanation for that.
Who cares what he looks like, Nick is tough and entertaining, he always puts on a good show and I think anyone would feel lucky to have him fight in there ORG. Nick brings it repeatedly, so does Nate, he just isnt nearly as entertaining or contriversial.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
