Nick Diaz’s Take on Mixed Martial Arts
Posted by Dave Walsh on October 11th, 2009
Nick Diaz is a polarizing character; you either hate him or you love him. When it comes to him there really isn’t much of a grey area. Nick Diaz is one thing that you cannot argue; Nick Diaz is a fighter. In a world that is full of fighters who were trained in the rigid world of “Mixed Martial Arts” Nick Diaz is different, Nick Diaz is a martial artist. Diaz might not fit into the traditional view of a Martial Artist, Nick doesn’t go off on long tales of honor, he doesn’t practice any mystical arts. In fact, he is rather straightforward and has an attitude that upsets many.
Nick talked to Black Belt magazine recently, where he talked about being a Martial Artist and how MMA really isn’t his thing. Nick likes to be a martial artist, but feels the world of MMA to be rather cumbersome; full of steroid abuse and cocky attitudes with nothing to back them up. What is interesting is Nick’s view on Frank Shamrock, who has become quite a proponent to the Martial Arts way, as he sees Frank as one of the guys who showed the MMA world that athleticism and training in a few different styles can put you on top of the heap. He also sees Frank as one of the guys that introduced MMA into the bodybuilder look and helped push steroid abuse. As with everything Diaz, this is quite an interview.
Your brother Nate fights for the UFC and you used to fight for them. Do you give him advice about how to handle things?
Yeah, I do. I give him the heads-up about what they do. He understands that they’re not completely all for you over there. You have to watch out and be ready for what you’re doing. It’s geared to that sportier athlete.I’m at war. As far as I’m concerned, this is warfare and I’m a ninja warrior and I’m taught to kill in the most efficient way possible. That’s the sort of mentality I’m going in there with.
I don’t want to sit next to you and have a conversation and lunch and have an interview together and talk and shake hands. I’m like, Fine, if the media wants to talk to me or see me or ask me questions, they can hear about whatever.
The UFC thinks [marketing] is good for the sport, but we don’t need to worry about that anymore. I’m sorry—I just don’t believe that we do. It’s not like we’re marketing Crystal Pepsi—this thing’s here to stay now.
I’m sorry that it scares people and that they’re not mature enough to understand that violence is a part of life. It’s just the way it is and it’s not my problem. That’s just the way I feel.
I don’t mean to be bad for the sport. I’m sorry if I’m bad for the sport. I don’t necessarily love this sport, either. I love jiu-jitsu and martial arts and competition, but mixed martial arts and what it is today, I don’t necessarily love it. It’s just not an easy job. And people like to point their fingers a lot and think it’s a ballgame and they think it’s an easy job, and it’s not that easy. I need to look like this killer to my adversary. I need to have that mental edge and I will have it. It’s the most important thing if I’m going to be fighting.
October 11th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I always enjoy Diaz’ fights. I’ll admit I kind of enjoy his gloating there about getting the better of loudmouthed, juiced-up Lion’s Den wannabes with his jiu-jitsu. In fact that kind of reminds me of arguing with Snowden.
But mainly it make me sad to see Diaz come off such a mess in that interview. He describes himself as paranoid and (at one point) an “a-hole.”
In return for his fame and the opportunity to make a living as a fighter, the guy finds himself expected to act like a professional and not his idea of a “ninja warrior,” and for some reason this just kills him.
I realize he had it tough growing up, but did he really have it harder than Pacquiao? I don’t know.
October 11th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
This is why I find Nick so interesting. He doesn’t want to be a performer or a guy walking around in a suit with an unbuttoned shirt underneath.
I mean, the Diaz boys still live with their parents! Think about that. Nick is my age, I haven’t lived with my parents in like 8 years and I don’t pull in the kind of money he pulls in when he gets a big fight. Clearly there is something going on with Nick that is just kind of coming from a sad place.
This is kinda why I see him as a real fighter. He fights with his heart, even if it is sort of dark and has a weird shadow hanging over it.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Maybe if Nick and Nate lifted some weights they might not be overwhelmed by every strong grappler they come across?
October 14th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Would an awesome ninja warrior need excess muscle? Then how would be sneak off into the night and be nimble?
November 4th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I enjoy watching Nick Diaz fight. His mma game has come a long way.