Nick Diaz: 'If I could do it over again, I would have gone back to the boxing contract'
by Geno Mrosko on Oct 27, 2011 2:30 AM EDT
in UFC News
Email
Print
Money makes the world go.
There is, perhaps, no mixed martial artist on the planet that knows this -- and understands it -- better than Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz.
The Stockton native would be the first one to tell you, he's not in this sport to make friends or get famous; he just wants to get paid.
That's why he contemplated a switch to professional boxing, where the payouts are far more lucrative at the top of the card then they are fighting in MMA, even if it's with the largest organization in the world, the UFC.
In fact, Diaz had a deal in place for a boxing match that would have earned him a handsome penny. But he ultimately turned it down for an exclusive eight-fight UFC contract and an immediate title shot against Georges St. Pierre.
But then it all went south.
After agreeing to the contract and getting a main event pay-per-view slot opposite one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters on Earth, Diaz went awol.
He retreated into the deep recesses of Stockton, California to train his mind and body for the challenge that was to come. It's what he does, after all. Train, eat, sleep; train, eat, sleep.
But when it came time to do some promoting and show up to a pair of press conferences in Canada and Las Vegas, he failed to show up. This so angered UFC President Dana White that the decision was made to take Diaz out of his title shot and off the card altogether.
There were even a few hints that he would be cut from the promotion altogether.
That quickly went to the wayside, however, when Diaz found himself staring at a contract to fight B.J. Penn, who had also just lost his opponent, Carlos Condit, thanks to Diaz. Both men signed on the dotted line and here we are.
Now, after all that, regret is rearing its ugly head.
As Diaz explained at the open media workouts (via USA Today), if he could take it all back now, he would stick with boxing and leave MMA behind ... for the time being:
"If I had my chance to do it over again, I would have gone back to the boxing contract. It would have paid me more money. ... Later on, I'm sure they would have had me back here."
Indeed, speculation has Diaz losing out on at least six -- and maybe seven -- figures for missing out on fighting St. Pierre in the main event of a major pay-per-view over the Halloween weekend.
That's quite a bit of coin, folks.
When it comes to Diaz, it's always about how he can get the most buck for his bang. The how, the where and the who are nearly irrelevant.
He's in a tough situation now, though. If he loses to Penn on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, he'll be multiple fights away from regaining a title shot and there's nothing to say St. Pierre will remain champion during that time.
In short, a lot more potential cash will disappear once again.
On top of that, his contract with UFC is exclusive, unlike the deal he had in place with Strikeforce. Even if he wants to go to boxing now to augment is Octagon salary, it's no longer an option.
Maybe that's not such a bad thing. Maybe that very fact will provide all the motivation he needs to emerge victorious when he gets down and dirty inside the cage with "The Prodigy."
Cash is king.
44 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
209...Im sorry if you are reading this but I hope your boy gets knocked out.
I am no huge Penn supporter. Obviously I respect him for all he has done and how he is and will be one of the best mma fighters ever. I hope he smashes Diaz’s face in and sends him flying back. Penn KO. Diaz doesn’t even recognize how he should be thanking the UFC for letting him fight at 137 at all. Learn some respect.
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
If there’s one thing i’ll give Nick, he’s a tough fucker…so I’m not so sure he’ll get knocked out……..but he’s about to be reminded why he left the UFC in the first place…….it’s a deep fuckin division.
"I'm gonna go tear a new asshole into the back of Bear's neck"
-Wilfred-
GSP, Fitch, Kos, Condit, Penn, Ellenberger, McDonald, AJ, Sanchez, Kampman, Story, Shields……looks pretty fuckin deep to me…..any of those guys are better than the guys he was fighting in Strikeforce.
"I'm gonna go tear a new asshole into the back of Bear's neck"
-Wilfred-
You forgot Kampmann got smashed by Daley?
And why is Story on that list? Like really?
And Shields trains with Nick….
Kampmann also beat Condit
and arguably should have gotten the decision over Sanchez and Shields. He’s definitely top 10.
Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile!
by JoshuaThomas on Oct 27, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
I mention all those guys simply because they’re ALL better than the scrubs he was fighting in Strikeforce…..including Shields. All of these guys are in the UFC now….nick has a better chance of starting a 10 fight losing streak than he does another 10 fight win streak. After this fight, he’ll get humped to death 2-3 times and he’ll move to boxing.
"I'm gonna go tear a new asshole into the back of Bear's neck"
-Wilfred-
Its not that deep? They are no fighters in the WORLD that would compete in that division
besides Askren and he would maybe he top 10. Don’t even say Hieron.
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
See the thing is
His boxing really isn’t that technical, he’d get punked against some real boxers. So all of this talk is just moot.
Liddell: 'I'll fight anyone, Silva? Yeah sure, Quinton Jackson? Sure, Randy Couture? Sure'
Reporter: 'What about Fedor Emelianenko?'
Liddell: 'Well if I'll have to...I'll fight him...if I have to'
Kos would hump this guy to a decision, Fitch would hump this guy to a decision, GSP would hump this guy to a decision
Diaz hasn’t faced a top 10 guy with top calibur wrestling like kos, fitch, gsp…he’s spent the past several years beating up on scrubs like shamrock, daley, cyborg, noons – all guys with NO wrestling game…they’re all guys who will just stand in the pocket and bang with him and he’s picked them apart…
He has yet to face a sick, powerful, dominant wrestler like fitch, kos, gsp…and the thing these 3 guys have in common is that they are difficult to submit…..Kos has had like 17 UFC fights and has only been subbed 1 time…fitch has never been subbed in UFC, and gsp has only been subbed once in like 17 fights to hughes…so these guys are nearly impossible to sub on the ground….
Diaz better just stick to boxing, cause after Penn beats his scrub ass, hes gonna get passed around by the top 5 just like he was passed around as a mid tier scrub during his first UFC term
sigs are gay
Diaz basically lost most if not all his previous UFC fights against guys who dominated him via position. Riggs, Karo et al.
Fitch, Kos, and GSP would likely do the same.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on Oct 27, 2011 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions
you think fitch is sick?
man, I dunno if you know much about mma..
25-3 over top competition.
Are you retarded?
"How many guys can say they actually been with Jenna Jameson"
-Tito Ortiz
"Two things you think about when you see another man... Who has a bigger dick and can I take that guy in a fight... One thing you cant do anything about, the other you can"
-Forrest Griffin
"My weight is not enough and strength is not enough either, so I have to take the fight by mastery."
-Fedor Emelianenko
23-3-1
And no a lot of his latest wins are really not that spectacular as some would lead you to believe.
Alves
Saunders
Pierce
Thiago
Not exactly world beaters.
Liddell: 'I'll fight anyone, Silva? Yeah sure, Quinton Jackson? Sure, Randy Couture? Sure'
Reporter: 'What about Fedor Emelianenko?'
Liddell: 'Well if I'll have to...I'll fight him...if I have to'
He's still smarter than the average bear...
"How many guys can say they actually been with Jenna Jameson"
-Tito Ortiz
"Two things you think about when you see another man... Who has a bigger dick and can I take that guy in a fight... One thing you cant do anything about, the other you can"
-Forrest Griffin
"My weight is not enough and strength is not enough either, so I have to take the fight by mastery."
-Fedor Emelianenko
Those are actually very good wins
"......I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! He's no Alexander! I'm Alexander! I'm the best ever. I'm Sonny Liston. I'm Jack Dempsey....My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious......." - Mike Tyson
by AintNoSunshine on Oct 27, 2011 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Nick is a bum. He’s not technical his boxing is the most overrated in mma. He is only saying this cuz he knows he’s gonna get his ass kicked. Only fight he wins in ufc is against the likes of dan hardy. Someone with zero ground game
sig bet with Armando Baez , on JDS/Cain , one month
sig bet with The Pride, on rua/hendo, 2 weeks and snowman/can crusher
by TheDragon on Oct 27, 2011 7:24 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Hang on a minute
You slam Nick’s boxing as “overrated” and its “not technical”…Lets not forget he beat KJ noons, a former pro boxer and also paul daley, muay thai WORLD champion.
In addition to this, your claiming THEN that the only guy he can beat is Dan Hardy…a striker.
In addition to this, your an idiot.
"How many guys can say they actually been with Jenna Jameson"
-Tito Ortiz
"Two things you think about when you see another man... Who has a bigger dick and can I take that guy in a fight... One thing you cant do anything about, the other you can"
-Forrest Griffin
"My weight is not enough and strength is not enough either, so I have to take the fight by mastery."
-Fedor Emelianenko
Well Masvidal also beat Noons, as did Krazy Horse Bennett. Their is a reason Noons doesnt box now
"......I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! He's no Alexander! I'm Alexander! I'm the best ever. I'm Sonny Liston. I'm Jack Dempsey....My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious......." - Mike Tyson
by AintNoSunshine on Oct 27, 2011 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Masvidal's actually decent, beaten Yves Edwards and Joe Lauzon.
And Krazy horse was a wild card, the way he fought there was a good chance he could randomly beat a lot of guys. Kinda like another guillard, cocaine and everything.
"How many guys can say they actually been with Jenna Jameson"
-Tito Ortiz
"Two things you think about when you see another man... Who has a bigger dick and can I take that guy in a fight... One thing you cant do anything about, the other you can"
-Forrest Griffin
"My weight is not enough and strength is not enough either, so I have to take the fight by mastery."
-Fedor Emelianenko
Also cause he got beat, doesnt change the fact he's an 11-2 pro boxer.
Everyone gets beat sooner or later.
"How many guys can say they actually been with Jenna Jameson"
-Tito Ortiz
"Two things you think about when you see another man... Who has a bigger dick and can I take that guy in a fight... One thing you cant do anything about, the other you can"
-Forrest Griffin
"My weight is not enough and strength is not enough either, so I have to take the fight by mastery."
-Fedor Emelianenko
The point is he was outboxed in those fights. A guy who is a pro boxer was out boxed by guys who arent pro boxers
"......I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! He's no Alexander! I'm Alexander! I'm the best ever. I'm Sonny Liston. I'm Jack Dempsey....My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious......." - Mike Tyson
by AintNoSunshine on Oct 27, 2011 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions
He was outSTRUCK by those guys.
Guys who punch and kick. Diaz straight up out boxed him. It was like he was making a point to.
"How many guys can say they actually been with Jenna Jameson"
-Tito Ortiz
"Two things you think about when you see another man... Who has a bigger dick and can I take that guy in a fight... One thing you cant do anything about, the other you can"
-Forrest Griffin
"My weight is not enough and strength is not enough either, so I have to take the fight by mastery."
-Fedor Emelianenko
Did you watch that fight? Because Nick didnt exactly out box him
"......I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! He's no Alexander! I'm Alexander! I'm the best ever. I'm Sonny Liston. I'm Jack Dempsey....My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious......." - Mike Tyson
by AintNoSunshine on Oct 27, 2011 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm saying it because i watched it.
He even dropped him in the first few minutes of the first round.
"How many guys can say they actually been with Jenna Jameson"
-Tito Ortiz
"Two things you think about when you see another man... Who has a bigger dick and can I take that guy in a fight... One thing you cant do anything about, the other you can"
-Forrest Griffin
"My weight is not enough and strength is not enough either, so I have to take the fight by mastery."
-Fedor Emelianenko
Diaz: 150 of 441
Noons: 139 of 426
Pretty even in terms of percentage and only 11 strike difference. Also no knockdowns.
"......I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! He's no Alexander! I'm Alexander! I'm the best ever. I'm Sonny Liston. I'm Jack Dempsey....My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious......." - Mike Tyson
by AintNoSunshine on Oct 27, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
So Diaz hit him more?
So…therefore, outboxed him? Dont know what point your trying to make, but you sure made mine for me.
Also, watch the first round again. Clearly someone hasnt seen the fight, funny after accusing me of having not seen it.
"How many guys can say they actually been with Jenna Jameson"
-Tito Ortiz
"Two things you think about when you see another man... Who has a bigger dick and can I take that guy in a fight... One thing you cant do anything about, the other you can"
-Forrest Griffin
"My weight is not enough and strength is not enough either, so I have to take the fight by mastery."
-Fedor Emelianenko
He didnt really outbox him
It was really close in terms of strikes landed. It was a pretty close fight for sure. I give KJ the respect for going toe to toe with someone that is much much bigger than him and lasting the entire fight.
enzo
by enzo-enormous on Oct 27, 2011 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
All the respect in the world to KJ for standing toe to toe.
I totally agree with that.
"How many guys can say they actually been with Jenna Jameson"
-Tito Ortiz
"Two things you think about when you see another man... Who has a bigger dick and can I take that guy in a fight... One thing you cant do anything about, the other you can"
-Forrest Griffin
"My weight is not enough and strength is not enough either, so I have to take the fight by mastery."
-Fedor Emelianenko
He was credited with no knock down. He landed more strikes but that doesnt mean he outboxed him. Considering this is a MMA fight in the first place the second someone throws a kick it immediately begins being unfair to say someone out boxed someone.
"......I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! He's no Alexander! I'm Alexander! I'm the best ever. I'm Sonny Liston. I'm Jack Dempsey....My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious......." - Mike Tyson
by AintNoSunshine on Oct 27, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Your clutching at straws buddy.
And using my arguement on “boxing” vs “striking” so that doesnt lend much credence to your point.
And what do you mean “credited”. So what, you just read stats and dont actually watch the fights? Watch…the…fight. And behold…a knockdown in round 1.
"How many guys can say they actually been with Jenna Jameson"
-Tito Ortiz
"Two things you think about when you see another man... Who has a bigger dick and can I take that guy in a fight... One thing you cant do anything about, the other you can"
-Forrest Griffin
"My weight is not enough and strength is not enough either, so I have to take the fight by mastery."
-Fedor Emelianenko
1.I don’t blame Nick as he clearly has a passion for the fisticuffs and he wanted to do it. The guy tested his mettle against some of the best in BJJ and through MMA he got really good at striking. The guy simply has an infatuation with boxing-no big deal.
2.His boxing isn’t great but for mixed martial arts it is. Everyone rants about Frankie Edgar’s head movement but Gray Maynard, a guy who gets zero respect for his boxing was able to hit him at will for a majority of all three fights. That speaks volumes about the complexity of boxing versus MMA boxing. The best defense in MMA boxing is having a granite chin.
3.Nick Diaz clearly doesn’t take training lightly at all. Has he ever gassed, looked weak or out of shape?-no. Nick Diaz surrounds himself with elite trainers that he pays very well to help him get to the top. Nick also has no formal background in any striking yet has more TKO/KO stoppages then submissions. He has beat elite strikers Robbie Lawler, Takanori Gomi, Evangelista Santos, Marius Zaromskis and Paul Daley at their OWN game.
4. Nick would be training full-time with Ward, Perez and a select others to refine his holes which means he would most likely succeed. Nick Diaz has done nothing but get better at almost all aspects of his game since debuting on the big stage. His only hole he would need refining for MMA is takedown defense and do you think training with Gilbert Melendez/Jake Shields he hasn’t learned athing or two?
5. Nick wants to get paid and that is nothing you or I could hate on him for. If he really could make more doing the boxing fight then i would regret it too. Diaz was probably talked into taking this UFC contract ebcause Cesar (his mentor) advised and reminded him of how good at MMA he is. I bet if Nick Diaz wins we see a whole new Nick Diaz as the fans get behind hima nd the money starts showing for his hard work. The guy didn’t wnat to fight a bum he wanted a challenge and a guy like Fernando Vargas may not make your dick hard in boxing but Vargas is a world class talent that has aged and broken down over warsbut still ahuge leap for a debut.
"with a good physique and explosiveness anybody can perform a takedown"
-RoBerto
by Lesnar's striking coach on Oct 27, 2011 8:06 AM EDT reply actions
He sounds real negative about this whole fight.
by johnnysmash on Oct 27, 2011 9:38 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Diaz needs a mental coach. This kid is undereducated immature unprofessional ungrateful and very confused. His camp needs to help the boy.
by talkfight on Oct 27, 2011 9:39 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
sparring with pro’s is a big difference from fighting top guys in boxing wearing pro-style gloves and/or headgear.
could he make a career fighting cans and former “champions” in boxing and make good money….very likely. insert every live boxing event i’ve ever been to with guys who are 2-14 and look at how many guys at the beginning of Mayweather or DLHoya’s record weren’t even .500 fighters
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on Oct 27, 2011 9:51 AM EDT reply actions
Do you guys reliaze when your saying Noons lost to Diaz that Noons went up a weight class to fight Diaz right ? Nick fought scrubs in strikeforce. This is one fight I will be cheering for Penn in. Send that retard packing back to the 209.
by BrockLesnar Budlight on Oct 27, 2011 11:17 AM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on MMAmania.com
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
