Last night, Nick Diaz proved that he is of UFC caliber.
Often times, most fans label non-UFC fighters as unworthy or not on par with the level of athlete that exists inside the Octagon and for good reason.
When Zuffa purchased the now defunct Pride organization in 2006, a bevy of talent was brought under the UFC umbrella and has not fared nearly as well as most would anticipate.
Case in point, Mirko Cro Cop, who at the time was considered a consensus top-three heavyweight fighter on the planet, though the touted kickboxer went 4-6 inside the Octagon.
However, Diaz has proven that his star, which had risen under the Strikeforce banner, was well deserved.
In his inaugural return to the UFC following a five-year absence traveling around the world in a number of other organizations, Diaz defeated former two-time world champion BJ Penn, bludgeoning the Hawaiian with shots to the head and body, eventually taking home a dominant decision victory.
Initially, Diaz was scheduled to take on welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre in the main event of the evening. However, due to a string of no-shows for several pre-fight press conferences, Diaz was later re-booked for his bout with Penn, while Carlos Condit was promoted to the main event.
After a subsequent injury sidelined St-Pierre, Diaz made the most of his opportunity, not only taking home “Fight of the Night” honors for his performance against Penn, but his shot at St-Pierre once again, leapfrogging Condit for his coveted title opportunity. Diaz presents a very real and very dangerous opponent for St-Pierre, who is in need of a thrilling performance.
The Canadian has recently drawn the ire of the fans for his “safe” and “boring” performances inside the Octagon. In his last four fights, all have gone to decision, albeit in less than entertaining fashion.
Though dominant, St-Pierre has strayed away from earlier in his career, where he was a destructive force in the welterweight class, making an effort to finish his opponents rather than settling for a win on points.
However, the Karate expert has since developed an unbelievable wrestling pedigree, relying on his grappling skills in settling for an easier route to victory.
Diaz is just not wired the same way as St-Pierre. The Stockton native has a penchant for exciting fights, thanks largely due to his willingness to throw himself in harm’s way. It’s a result of earlier bouts in his career, where Diaz lost several controversial decisions in his earlier UFC days, playing the same points game that St-Pierre has since grown accustomed to.
Now, for Diaz, a finish is the only thing that is acceptable—it’s that same desire that St-Pierre has since lost.
Will St-Pierre reignite that same fire he once had? No. Against a dangerous challenger in Diaz, his path to victory will lie in his safe and sure style of fighting, which will only reaffirm the label that surrounds him today.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com