When Nick Diaz speaks, many people are so transfixed on him, because you just never know what he is going to say or do. Many people see him as the "disrespectful punk" that "needs to be beaten down" as reigning UFC welterweight champion Georges St Pierre recently stated. Many people just cannot seem to understand what is wrong with the enigmatic and embattled welterweight challenger.
It is clear that Nick Diaz is not a man that is after fame. He does not enjoy media hype, he does not seem to enjoy being interviewed by most, he typically shys away from lights and cameras and he obviously does not like to take part in press conferences....all because it takes away from his incredibly valuable training time and that time away from his training...seriously frustrates the former Strikeforce Champion.
However, if you ask those that are close to Nick like current UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, they will tell you..."Nick is probably one of the most misunderstood MMA fighters out there". You see, some guys in MMA are so focused on their training but are really very nice guys by nature. They NEED to train obsessively to feel right and when they cannot do that because of media obligations or if they feel disrespected....they get very frustrated...especially as fight time gets closer. Nick is a very quiet and genuinely a very nice person by nature. I belive 100% that Nick is so committed to his training, that ANY distractions from his training annoys him greatly. That to me is the real Nick Diaz....a real martial artist.
Diaz also has a very legitimate reason to be upset with many in the MMA media when they gloss over him as a viable threat to a champion's title because of his public image. He is discounted by many because people think he is just "complaining" but the reality is that Nick Diaz is one of the very best fighters in the world today, and he desperately wants to prove it to all that will watch him.
MMA fans are very lucky right now, because Nick Diaz is one of those unique fighters that only comes along once every so often. He is a very honorable martial artist. He is truly a world class jiu jitsu practictioner that has equally unreal boxing skills. Then, when you couple that with super-human cardio and an iron chin....that should say it all....but it doesn't.
Nick is also one of the most disciplined MMA fighters on planet Earth today. He probably posesses one of the highest "fight IQ's" in the sport and is a very scary opponent because he truly is comfortable fighting anyone, anywhere, in any position, in any weight class. nick Diaz is a real martial artist. That's why Nick Diaz is a real martial artist.
People need to respect this man because he is a great fighter that is brilliant for the sport of MMA. He does not run from fighters to be safe (ala Greg Jackson teachings). He is a Gracie fighter....under the masterful eye of the legendary Cesar Gracie....and Gracie fighters are true martial artists that come to fight....and come to fight the best in the world. That's why Nick Diaz is a real martial artist.
Aside from the mean-mugging that the Diaz brothers do before fights, one thing to always pay attention to is as soon as the final bell rings...both Diaz brothers (yes the same ones that people think are disrespectful punks) will always be the first people to congratulate their opponents with a friendly handshake, a hug or a competitors acknowledgment. They both deeply believe in sportsmanship, and Nick has set the standard for sportsmanship when the fight ends. Rest assured, when Nick Diaz completes the fight journey with GSP and the fighters are getting cleaned up to hear the official decision....Nick will be the first to extend his hand to GSP and shake off all of the "bad sport" chatter that helps sell fights. That's why Nick Diaz is a real martial artist.
When Nick Diaz comes to the end of his illustrious and storied MMA career, something tells me that he will focus his teachings not to teach people "to be a tough fighter"....something tells me that Nick will be teaching people "self-defense" from "so-called fighters". That to me is what makes Nick Diaz the enigma that he is....and that is what makes Nick Diaz a true martial artist.
From the mile high city (take it as you will).....Good luck Nick and go get that title you deserve.
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