Nick Diaz still 'completely retired,' would rather 'work at WalMart' than fight for current UFC money

It's safe to assume that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight star, Nick Diaz, is misunderstood.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise to mixed martial arts (MMA) fans that the former 170-pound No. 1 title challenger has no intentions to return to the sport under his current deal even though he essentially declared his desire to do so at UFC 171 in Dallas, Texas, last month (watch full scrum video here).

That's because Diaz is willing to comeback, but not for less than $500,000 and/or a fight against newly-minted division champion, Johny Hendricks. Until then, Diaz tonight told MMAFighting.com that he remains "completely retired."

"I never considered anything other than to renegotiate my contract or fight Johny Hendricks. All I said was, What am I getting paid? And he said, Let me check your contract. And the last text I got from him was what I would be fighting for. I didn't consider fighting for that kind of money. I didn't say anything back to him, right, but usually that means something. I'm not considering even for a second fighting any of those guys for less than $500,000. There's no way.

 I'm retired. Completely retired. Unless the UFC wants to renegotiate for something I'm happy with or I'm going to be fighting for the world title, which is obviously going to be for something I'm happy with because I'll make a ton of money. 

The UFC wants me to fight. The people want me to fight. I don't want me to fight. So if we're going to need me to fight, we're going to have to work out the right deal."

That would certainly explain the reason company president, Dana White, "never heard" from Diaz after he offered him a fight against Hector Lombard, who most recently battered the Stockton, Calif., native's friend and training partner, Jake Shields, from pillar to post and onto the unemployment line.

Cash, it seems, is clearly a major factor even though White claims Diaz has "everything he wants right now" thanks to a big-money fight against former champion, Georges St-Pierre, last year.

In fact, getting paid is paramount because, as Diaz admitted, he never really loved fighting from the start.

"I'm not in love with fighting. I never was. That's crazy. I don't love to fight; I don't want to fight. I get my ass beat more when I win a fight than when I lose. I know you don't want to get your ass beat. I feel the same way. I feel the exact same way about retirement. I could give a fuck. 
"I'm not going backward in this sport ever, especially in pay. Why would I? To get my ass whooped? No. I would rather work at Wal-Mart. I have enough money to buy a nice house, do some gigs, save some money.... I'm not so sure my heart was ever in it. I don't know what that means. If I'm getting paid what I want to get paid, hell yeah I'm into it. I'm not into it if it's not worth it to me. If they want to renegotiate, I like that. But if not, then I don't give a shit.... I'm ready to fight for the right money. It's worth maybe getting your face smashed in for that much money. But for less, I'd rather get a regular job and be that guy who used to fight, made a title run, Showtime/Strikeforce champion."

All for one, one for all.