Sunday, February 1, 2015

MMA 'bad boy' Nick Diaz still has something to prove


UFC 183 headliner Nick Diaz (26-9-1NC) is one of the biggest names in MMA, and not primarily for his feats inside the Octagon. 
Coming into his fourteenth year as a professional fighter, Diaz has been there and done that. His career has taken him to a hatful of promotions, with the California native spending time with Pride, Strikeforce, Elite XC, WEC, Shooto and Dream.
He’s captured gold before, as the WEC and Strikeforce welterweight champion, although the UFC belt has evaded him. 
Diaz is both loved and hated in equal measure. There is no questioning his image as the "bad boy of MMA", with his fans enjoying his brash, loudmouth attitude, as the fighter who shoots from the hip more often than not.
Whether it’s his high profile feud with UFC president Dana White or his apparent ‘disrespect’ ofGeorges St-Pierre (GSP), his multiple retirements, numerous failed drug tests or no showing media events, Diaz certainly knows how to create controversy. 
His style is known to rub some fight fans the wrong way, with many considering him nothing more than a loud mouth who knows how to talk a big fight, but not necessarily win one.
But for every detractor, there’s a member of Team Diaz who find his approach to the fight-game refreshing. Diaz’s ‘anti-authority’ approach has captured fight fans' imagination and it is this following that has seen him headline some of the UFC’s biggest events, as he does again this Sunday against the returning Anderson Silva (33-6).
Sunday’s fight is a watershed moment for Diaz, with the Silva fight giving him the opportunity to make big dollars and a victory could put him on course for another title shot, either in the middleweight or his more natural welterweight division. 
It’s the golden ticket for a fighter that has a habit for getting in his own way. Diaz retired after his last fight with Georges St Pierre, in which he lost the five-round title fight via unanimous decision. 
Diaz blamed the judges and promptly walked away, as he did in the fight before, another loss against Carlos Condit, that time for the interim belt. Again Diaz blamed the judges, and again the retirement proved only short term. 
After announcing his departure from the UFC after falling to GSP (25-2), UFC president Dana White said he’d soon be back, "when the money runs out."
Diaz has become a highly skilled fighter, starting his mixed-martial arts career practising Karate and Aikido from a young age, alongside his brother and fellow UFC fighter Nate Diaz. He soon transitioned into Sambo and Freestyle Wrestling, before switching his attention to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), where he gained a black belt under Cesar Gracie.
The Mexican-American made his professional debut in 2001 at the age of 18, winning his first fight via triangle choke. Diaz would win his first title in his second fight, defeating the veteran Chris Lytle (31-18-5) to win the IFC Welterweight championship.
He would go undefeated in his first four fights, before tasting defeat to Jeremy Jackson (9-5) at IFC Cage Warriors Challenge 18, having fought two fights earlier that night in the one-night tournament. 
The setback would be put behind him, by claiming his first major championship, the WEC Welterweight championship against Joe Hurley (12-5). He’d follow that with redemption against Jackson, winning both the rematch and rubber match, the later taking in his UFC debut, after signing with the organisation in mid-2003.
He would impress early in his UFC career, defeating Robbie Lawler (25-10-1), losing on a split decision to Karo Parisyan (24-11-1), before rebounding with wins against Koji Oishi (25-10-10) and Drew Fickett (42-21).
Diaz impressed many with his action packed fights as fans became accustomed to his explosive style, both in the Octagon and on the microphone. 
The fighter was becoming known for his blatant disrespect of fighters, using the press and official UFC events to publicly ridicule each opponent. That may have proved his undoing however, as Diaz would lose his next three fights, to Diego Sanchez (25-7), Joe Riggs (40-15-1) and Sean Sherk (36-4-1), which would see him temporarily leave the UFC.
He’d be granted a reprieve soon after filling in after Thiago Alves (20-9) become ill before his fight at UFC 62. Diaz would mark his return with a win, and making it back to back victories in his next fight at UFC 65.
Despite the improved results, the UFC didn’t move to resign the fighter, showing the first signs of what would become a ‘touchy’ relationship between the pair. 
Diaz would prove it an opportunity lost for the Zuffa owned organisation, losing just one fight in his next fourteen, plying his trade across Pride, Elite XC, Dream and Strikeforce organisations. 
It was Diaz’s performances, along with emerging fighters such as Jake Shields (31-7-1-1NC), Ronda Rousey (10-0) and Gilbert Melendez (22-4) that would take Strikeforce to record ratings and a big following, with now Bellator president, Scott Coker giving the UFC some real competition. 
Diaz continued to add to his legions of fans with his brashness, and as always, wasn’t too far from controversy.
In this time he would become equally adept at self promotion. Every story needs a bad guy and Diaz showed all he was happy to play the role. 
But, unexpectedly, Diaz would soon be back under the UFC banner. Zuffa would purchase Strikeforce and as a result acquire the contract of the organisations welterweight champion. 
Despite the animosity, UFC president Dana White honoured the contract and the two committed to building a relationship, which would soon make each of them a lot of money.
Diaz was thrown to the wolves, with MMA legend BJ "The Prodigy" Penn (16-10-2) first up in his second return to the Octagon. Diaz would prove too good however, taking the fight on a unanimous decision.
The Carlos Condit (29-8) and GSP fights would follow, but they’d be met with roadblocks.
Diaz would be suspended for a year after testing positive to marijuana after his fight with Condit, whilst he had his initial shot at GSP cancelled after he failed to show up to a pre-fight press conference, after missing numerous scheduled flights. 
Despite these troubles, the UFC persevered as he sells tickets and his name ensures a substantial buy rate and fan investment. 
Sunday’s fight still presents many questions. Arguably one of the UFC’s best, "The Spider" Silva, makes his return after a horrendous leg break. Most questions linger around the health of Silva and whether at age 39 he can return to his former glory.
But the subplot of Diaz is intriguing. Is the fighter following a similar pathway to a fighter like Chael Sonnen (28-14-1)? “The American Gangster” is remembered as much for being a mouthpiece to get turnstiles spinning, as being known for the headlines he created actually fighting inside the Octagon.
It’s a chance for the 31-year-old to show he truly belongs at the elite level of the sport.
Is Diaz worthy of the main event or is he simply a sideshow? Sunday is when we find out.
** Article originally appeared on MMA Kanvas