Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
There were a lot of high fives and butt slaps in the wake of UFC 241 last month in Anaheim, as the fan bros — grown up versions of yesteryear’s fan boys — celebrated the return of Nate Diaz, a foul-mouthed fighter who is as talented as he is entertaining.
It was certainly refreshing to have him back, but I’m not sure I understand all this idol worship, nor can I wrap my head around his No. 6 spot in the official welterweight rankings. Based on … a unanimous decision win over a former lightweight who hasn’t won back-to-back fights in nearly six years?
I get it, he gives his opponents the middle finger, smokes joints on the job, and tells the establishment to go fuck itself. Though anyone who works in retail does the same thing during Christmas season, so let’s not get too crazy over it.
“I read the headline from one of the big papers that wrote a story about this,” UFC President Dana White told thirsty reporters at the UFC 241 post-fight press conference. “It said ‘The UFC needs an antihero and here he is: Nate Diaz.’ And it’s true.”
It’s also true that Diaz teaches kids classes and donates to charity. You can spare that kind of time when you don’t fight for three years and only commit to competition when the cards are stacked in your favor, either competitively or financially.
”I said it leading up to this fight, he’s the guy that says ‘Fuck you’ to the man, but he never really says ‘Fuck you’ to the man. Actually, every time I see him, Nate is cool. He just has this thing that people like.”
It’s called staying on brand, and Diaz does it as well as anyone (because it pays beaucoup bucks). I know, I know, how dare a little bitch-ass wannabe like me say anything, but what the Stockton sack straddlers aren’t comprehending, is that it’s not Diaz that I’m complaining about, it’s the fair-weather fan base. Remember all the shitheads who jumped ship when Diaz was toe-tagged by Josh Thomson?
You know who you are!
The promotion’s real antihero is Khabib Nurmagomedov, who will attempt to unify the lightweight titles when he collides with Dustin Poirier in the UFC 242 pay-per-view (PPV) main event this Sat. (Sept. 7, 2019) on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
Oh I’m sorry, is he not cool enough for you?
Maybe he doesn’t get celebrated by the “in” crowd because he’s candid with his staunch commitment to religion. Or perhaps his style of fighting, reliant on wrestling and top control, isn’t exiting enough for the Just Bleed’rs, who suffer from KDD (Knockout Deficit Disorder). You know the type. Anything that isn’t Frye-Takayama is greeted with a boo and a beer run.
But let’s cut the bullshit and start recognizing some very basic facts. Nurmagomedov is a unapologetic killer who is undefeated at 27-0 (with 17 finishes). Not only did he make Conor McGregor quit at UFC 229, he put “Notorious” on his ass with a perfectly-placed punch in the second round. The biggest draw in the history of our sport was completely outclassed from bell-to-bell and Irish MMA fans are still icing their butts.
Is Nurmagomedov an asshole?
Well, I never met him in person, but he certainly acts like one. That’s kinda what it means to be the antihero. If you get the “love and respect you deserve” like Nate Diaz, then you’re not the anti-anything. Look, I would blockquote the definition for you, but this isn’t a college paper, so go look it up yourself.
“I know a lot of fans will say ‘who cares,’ but some media left their families and flew across the world to be there,” veteran MMA reporter, Mike Chiappetta, wrote about Nurmagomedov after “The Eagle” no-showed the UFC 242 media day.
“Khabib preaches respect and professionalism, but this ain’t it.”
Being professional is making weight and I’m sure that was more important to the champion than being packed into a media scrum for lame-duck questions about McGregor, top contender Tony Ferguson, and a bunch of other clickable topics I’ll steal that have nothing to do with Poirier.
It’s not “The Diamond’s” fault, that’s just what happens when you’re the +365 underdog.
Let’s assume that every negative headline about the Dagestani champion is true. So what? The most important thing a fighter can do is fight, and when the cage door closes, he takes the world’s best fighters and destroys them. If you get on his bad side, he’ll clown you in the hotel or dive bomb you off the cage.
Nurmagomedov trains with bears, surrenders half his fight purse to spite Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), and wins “Fight of the Night” at combat sports events that aren’t even hosted under the UFC banner.
Sorry Frankie, there’s a new ringmaster in town.
Nate Diaz is the cool kid. Dustin Poirier is the role model. Khabib Nurmagomedov is the antihero. He’s also the lightweight champion of the world, a title I expect him to retain after the dust settles this weekend in Abu Dhabi.
Deal with it.
To see who else is fighting at UFC 242 click here.