(“Tell me you aren’t going to miss this shit, bro.”)
Our friends at Kimura.se caught up with Jake Shields ahead of his UFC 144 fight with Yoshihiro Akiyama Saturday in Japan and they asked the Team Cesar Gracie fighter whether or not he thinks his teammate Nick Diaz will follow through on his plan to retire.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/Kimura.se)
According to the former Strikeforce middleweight champ, he doesn’t believe Diaz’s fighting days are behind him and he feels that the Stockton native let his emotions get the best of him after his razor-close decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143. Shields says that some time away from the sport will likely rejuvenate the former Strikeforce welterweight champ and stoke the fire in Diaz to compete again.
“He’s calmed down; I think he’s gonna fight again. I think it’s just, you know, he’s been a little burned out. They’ve been fighting him like crazy, keeping him busy. I think he just needs a little break,” Shields explained. “Unfortunately, he’ll probably be suspended for a little while, but the time off will make him love the sport again and make him wanna get back in there.”
During a Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing today Diaz’s license was suspended and his fight purse and bonuses ordered held until a future disciplinary hearing is held at a yet-to-be-determined date. We’ll have more info as it becomes available.