theragingbull
09-11-2006, 11:03 AM
"What is this amateur hour?!" - Ron Burgundy. Yes it is amateur hour. Here is my attempt at an article about Nick Diaz. My next article will be on Mayhem Miller. This one turned out a 1,000 words, 500 more than I usually write. I am pushing limits here folks. Enjoy.
There is no submission in Nick Diaz
UFC fighter returns at UFC 62 after fall from grace
Nick Diaz could be the next UFC welterweight champion. The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world considers Nick Diaz a legitimate contender and has since 2003. It may be hard to believe that Diaz has only been a fighter since 2001. Fighters crawl and claw their way to the ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), America’s premier MMA organization, while Nick Diaz makes it his backyard.
Diaz spent his eighteenth birthday training for his first fight. He won that bout two weeks later via submission. This type of dedication is what Diaz brings to his camp: Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Along with Pride FC prospect Gilbert Melendez and Rumble on the Rock welterweight champion Jake Shields, Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has a zealous camp of young fighters like Diaz. His younger brother Nathan has become a hot prospect in the fight world and solid stable mate. At twenty-three years old, Diaz is a brown belt under the first family of the ground game. He teaches, trains, and runs marathons. He is also a professional boxer. To borrow a cliché from the MMA gods: fighting is his life.
Diaz holds a professional Mixed Martial Arts record of 13-6. Diaz’s ascendance to fight fame came when his trilogy against Jeremy “Scorpion” Jackson culminated at his UFC debut at UFC 44: Undisputed. Diaz inched out a victory by armbar in the third round against the hard-hitting veteran. His talents impressed the UFC enough to feed him to the lion in his next fight.
“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler’s highlight reel knockouts made him the most feared welterweight contender in the UFC. The Militech Fighting Systems brawler expected to "be back in three minutes" as he typically told his locker room before fights, but as the two fighters circled each other in the first round, it was apparent Diaz had something else in mind. Diaz taunted Lawler inside the Octagon in his now trademarked-fashion, lifting his hands and pawing his opponents hands away. This went on for two rounds as the ground specialist out struck the slugger. Diaz then walked away with one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history. Lawler’s face plant solidified Diaz’s contender status in only six minutes.
Diaz soon learned the hard lesson of loss. He lost to fellow young gun, Olympian Judo-specialist Karo Paryisian in a classic ground battle. The fight tested Diaz’s chin under the pressure of Paryisian’s – who later received a UFC title shot – wild haymakers. The resilient Diaz came back with two knockout victories in a row over Koji Oshi and Drew Fickett. Back in the welterweight title picture, he lost three in a row to Diego Sanchez, Joe Riggs, and Sean Sherk.
Diaz quickly became a controversial figure in MMA. He called Sanchez a “reality show punk” that did not earn his place. He did not waver from that assertion even in defeat. Diaz and Riggs took their fighting outside of the Octagon and into the hospital where they traded blows during post-fight evaluations. Diaz was tough all around, but the UFC and Diaz parted ways.
Diaz was slated to be a cast member on the fourth season of the UFC’s reality show The Ultimate Fighter. The show, titled The Comeback, would provide the winner with a title shot. Diaz decided to take another road to fight prominence. He fought his first fight outside of the UFC in three years in his hometown of Stockton, California in May of 2006 at the inaugural Warrior’s Cup show.
He turned back onto victory road against Ray Steinbess and was slated to fight again in August. Prior to fight night, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) was unable to sanction the fight against fellow UFC veteran John Alessio for undisclosed reasons. The infuriated fans at the Stockton Arena were unknowingly in for a treat. While they were unable to see Diaz fight in person, they were able to watch their hometown hero return to the UFC. Diaz was a late replacement on UFC 62. If he had fought in Stockton, the CSAC would not have cleared his return to the Octagon on such short notice.
Josh “The Dentist” Neer of Militech Fighting Systems earned his nickname in nearly one-hundred amateur and professional MMA fights. As always, Diaz was fearless. Diaz stated in a pre-fight interview that he was “unimpressed” with what he had seen of Neer. From the opening bell, Diaz emerged as the fighter that picked apart Neer’s training partner Robbie Lawler. Not as tentative as he had been in recent fights, Diaz strategically threw flurries of hands, knees, and kicks. He made Neer unimpressive because he was overwhelmingly impressive. A third round submission victory reintroduced the MMA world to Nick Diaz.
More was learned about Diaz in the post-fight interview. His casual attitude shined through when he told commentator Joe Rogan that “it just feels like another fight.” Diaz interjected: “I feel like I never lost a fight in my life, to tell you the truth.” This refers to his three fight losing streak, which were all decisions. Diaz’s Achilles heel has been strong wrestlers. Although Sean Sherk, a bull of a wrestler, discussed how Diaz surprised him with his wrestling abilities. His “never lost” attitude can be seen as his warrior’s spirit – impervious to defeat. It may be the proud Diaz that earned him the title of a “punk.”
He is now known as Nick “Diablo” Diaz. While people question Diaz’s attitude, there is no debate about Diaz’s toughness. He has never been knocked out. He has not been stopped since 2001 – the only stoppage of his career. He has never been submitted. Despite suffering tough losses to top-tier opponents, Diaz once again claims the Octagon as his backyard. His controversial attitude has proved more compelling than hurtful. With a rumored fight against Josh Koscheck – a former Division I NCAA wrestler – at UFC 64 in October of 2006, Diaz can be a contender once more. When 2007 arrives, look for Nick Diaz to strive to do the same.
- The Raging Bull
There is no submission in Nick Diaz
UFC fighter returns at UFC 62 after fall from grace
Nick Diaz could be the next UFC welterweight champion. The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world considers Nick Diaz a legitimate contender and has since 2003. It may be hard to believe that Diaz has only been a fighter since 2001. Fighters crawl and claw their way to the ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), America’s premier MMA organization, while Nick Diaz makes it his backyard.
Diaz spent his eighteenth birthday training for his first fight. He won that bout two weeks later via submission. This type of dedication is what Diaz brings to his camp: Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Along with Pride FC prospect Gilbert Melendez and Rumble on the Rock welterweight champion Jake Shields, Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has a zealous camp of young fighters like Diaz. His younger brother Nathan has become a hot prospect in the fight world and solid stable mate. At twenty-three years old, Diaz is a brown belt under the first family of the ground game. He teaches, trains, and runs marathons. He is also a professional boxer. To borrow a cliché from the MMA gods: fighting is his life.
Diaz holds a professional Mixed Martial Arts record of 13-6. Diaz’s ascendance to fight fame came when his trilogy against Jeremy “Scorpion” Jackson culminated at his UFC debut at UFC 44: Undisputed. Diaz inched out a victory by armbar in the third round against the hard-hitting veteran. His talents impressed the UFC enough to feed him to the lion in his next fight.
“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler’s highlight reel knockouts made him the most feared welterweight contender in the UFC. The Militech Fighting Systems brawler expected to "be back in three minutes" as he typically told his locker room before fights, but as the two fighters circled each other in the first round, it was apparent Diaz had something else in mind. Diaz taunted Lawler inside the Octagon in his now trademarked-fashion, lifting his hands and pawing his opponents hands away. This went on for two rounds as the ground specialist out struck the slugger. Diaz then walked away with one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history. Lawler’s face plant solidified Diaz’s contender status in only six minutes.
Diaz soon learned the hard lesson of loss. He lost to fellow young gun, Olympian Judo-specialist Karo Paryisian in a classic ground battle. The fight tested Diaz’s chin under the pressure of Paryisian’s – who later received a UFC title shot – wild haymakers. The resilient Diaz came back with two knockout victories in a row over Koji Oshi and Drew Fickett. Back in the welterweight title picture, he lost three in a row to Diego Sanchez, Joe Riggs, and Sean Sherk.
Diaz quickly became a controversial figure in MMA. He called Sanchez a “reality show punk” that did not earn his place. He did not waver from that assertion even in defeat. Diaz and Riggs took their fighting outside of the Octagon and into the hospital where they traded blows during post-fight evaluations. Diaz was tough all around, but the UFC and Diaz parted ways.
Diaz was slated to be a cast member on the fourth season of the UFC’s reality show The Ultimate Fighter. The show, titled The Comeback, would provide the winner with a title shot. Diaz decided to take another road to fight prominence. He fought his first fight outside of the UFC in three years in his hometown of Stockton, California in May of 2006 at the inaugural Warrior’s Cup show.
He turned back onto victory road against Ray Steinbess and was slated to fight again in August. Prior to fight night, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) was unable to sanction the fight against fellow UFC veteran John Alessio for undisclosed reasons. The infuriated fans at the Stockton Arena were unknowingly in for a treat. While they were unable to see Diaz fight in person, they were able to watch their hometown hero return to the UFC. Diaz was a late replacement on UFC 62. If he had fought in Stockton, the CSAC would not have cleared his return to the Octagon on such short notice.
Josh “The Dentist” Neer of Militech Fighting Systems earned his nickname in nearly one-hundred amateur and professional MMA fights. As always, Diaz was fearless. Diaz stated in a pre-fight interview that he was “unimpressed” with what he had seen of Neer. From the opening bell, Diaz emerged as the fighter that picked apart Neer’s training partner Robbie Lawler. Not as tentative as he had been in recent fights, Diaz strategically threw flurries of hands, knees, and kicks. He made Neer unimpressive because he was overwhelmingly impressive. A third round submission victory reintroduced the MMA world to Nick Diaz.
More was learned about Diaz in the post-fight interview. His casual attitude shined through when he told commentator Joe Rogan that “it just feels like another fight.” Diaz interjected: “I feel like I never lost a fight in my life, to tell you the truth.” This refers to his three fight losing streak, which were all decisions. Diaz’s Achilles heel has been strong wrestlers. Although Sean Sherk, a bull of a wrestler, discussed how Diaz surprised him with his wrestling abilities. His “never lost” attitude can be seen as his warrior’s spirit – impervious to defeat. It may be the proud Diaz that earned him the title of a “punk.”
He is now known as Nick “Diablo” Diaz. While people question Diaz’s attitude, there is no debate about Diaz’s toughness. He has never been knocked out. He has not been stopped since 2001 – the only stoppage of his career. He has never been submitted. Despite suffering tough losses to top-tier opponents, Diaz once again claims the Octagon as his backyard. His controversial attitude has proved more compelling than hurtful. With a rumored fight against Josh Koscheck – a former Division I NCAA wrestler – at UFC 64 in October of 2006, Diaz can be a contender once more. When 2007 arrives, look for Nick Diaz to strive to do the same.
- The Raging Bull