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Nick Diaz Moves the Needle, but He’s Retired at the Moment
UFC president Dana White has explained why he isn’t interested in renegotiating anything with Nate Diaz. He doesn’t think the Stockton lightweight is worth the investment. But Nate’s older brother, Nick, is a different story.
“Nick is a needle mover. Nick moves the needle,” said White while in Dublin for UFC Fight Night 46 on July 19.
The older of the two Diaz brothers, Nick, has arguably put together a Hall of Fame-worthy mixed martial arts career. His UFC 47 knockout of Robbie Lawler put him on the map. His Pride 33 submission-win over Takanori Gomi by gogoplata pretty much solidified his status as a legend among hardcore fans. The win was later turned into a No Contest after Diaz tested positive to marijuana following the fight.
To put the 30-year-old former Strikeforce welterweight champion’s drawing power into perspective; he was granted a UFC welterweight title fight against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158 while coming off of a loss to Carlos Condit and after a year suspension for testing positive to marijuana for the second time.
He coined the phrase, “Don’t be scared homie.” He has a cult-like following. Whether he’s complaining about driving a Honda or the organization selling “wolf tickets,” Nick Diaz generates interest, which equates to dollars.
There are big fights and large paydays out there for Diaz. The problem is, he’s retired.
“Nick’s not holding out. Nick said, ‘I’m just not going to fight for a while. I’m going to retire.’ And I think that when that’s your mindset, you need to take some time off. This isn’t baseball, or some sport where you can whatever. This is fighting. You’ve got to be all-in or all-out,” said White about the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter.
But retirement doesn’t mean that a fighter won’t fight again. Just ask Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock, or Tito Ortiz.
Diaz has always wanted marquee match-ups. Former longtime middleweight champion Anderson Silva has expressed interest in a bout with Diaz for his return fight early next year. If any bout agreement could draw Diaz out of retirement, it’s a fight against the widely considered G.O.A.T.
