With news that Nate Diaz had ended his holdout to face Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on FOX 13, there were hopes that the former lightweight contender would be on better terms with UFC brass. According to Diaz’ manager, Mike Kogan, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
“No. F**k no. No. We’re not happy,” Kogan told Fight Hub.
Diaz, who hasn’t competed since starching Gray Maynard last November at the The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale, had chosen to remain sidelined rather than earn what he believed to be an unreasonable salary.
Some believed Diaz had won his game of chicken with the UFC in September when he was booked against Dos Anjos, but it was quickly revealed it was only the caliber of opponent that ended the holdout.
According to Kogan, the original eight-fight deal Diaz signed prior to his December 2012 title bout with Benson Henderson remains as much of an issue as ever.
“We weren’t happy when we were signing it,” said Kogan. “Just kind of made it work because it was two weeks before the fight and there just wasn’t time to be making a lot of waves.”
Kogan says White and the UFC became frosty when Diaz wanted more money to face rising stars rather than established contenders.
“The next thing you know, they’re trashing [Diaz] in pubic that he’s afraid to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov, which was bulls**t. Nobody said afraid, we just said, ‘Hey, you want me to fight up-an-coming guys and build them up and give them exposure? Then you have to pay.’
In the wake of the infamous clashes between White and Kogan on social media, the manager isn’t sure how much a relationship he and his fighter have with the UFC president.
“I feel like it’s important to have a relationship, but I also feel like it’s important not to trash your fighters in public,” said Kogan.
“[White] spent a whole year trashing [Diaz] and now he’s fighting a No. 3 guy in the co-main event on FOX. Talk about ‘needle movers.’ If he’s not moving the needle what is he doing there? How do you get to a co-main event and ‘you’re not a needle mover’ and ‘you’re insignificant’ and ‘I don’t care if he never fights again, he can just go away forever.’
Reaffirming the strain between his fighter and the UFC, Kogan says Diaz is fighting purely out of need.
“Nobody said everything’s OK. [Diaz] is back because he needs to fight. He needs to earn a living. If he was [Floyd Mayweather Jr.] making $30 million a fight he’d probably never come back and you’d never hear from him again, but he doesn’t get paid the kind of money that people think he does. You can’t sit out forever. You have to at some point come back, but at least he came back on his own terms. He got the fight that he wanted against a top three contender.”
Nate Diaz faces Rafael dos Anjos Dec. 13 at UFC on FOX 13 in Phoenix, Arizona.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
MMA Beat. The panel discusses Rory MacDonald getting a title shot, Cung Le getting a chance to appeal his suspension, Royce Gracie teaming up with Bellator, and much more.
Mayhem. After police tried serving him with an arrest warrant, Jason Miller barricaded himself inside his home and live-tweeted his standoff with the Orange County SWAT team.
Finally. Bantamweight prospect Holly Holm will make her promotional debut at UFC 181 against a TUF 18 cast member.
Not awkward. Rory MacDonald believes Georges St-Pierre will ‘probably’ return to the UFC, but that the former champion wouldn’t fight him if he were holding the welterweight title. ‘It doesn’t mean he has to fight for the championship. He would respect my position if I was holding the belt.’
Grand Theft Gracie. Did Bellator steal another UFC icon just because it could?
MEDIA STEW
Free Fight: Michael Bisping vs. Cung Le.
Mayhem Miller standoff with police.
The start of Daniel Cormier’s humble captaincy.
Bellator 128 preview.
5 Rounds with Michael Page.
TTTHS.
I don’t like posting highlight tapes but forgive me this one.
Long watches.
Oct. 9 Edition of The MMA Report – Rory MacDonald
…
Team Alpha Male Radio with Holdsworth, Benavidez, and Palmer. “Conor McGregor calls in” (not really)
TWEETS
Mayhem reactions.
Guys I’m trying to help mayhem,but I’m not near him,and he’s not responding to my messages. All I can do now is help him after gives up.
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) October 9, 2014
Daaaaang! RT @6StringSamurai: ICYMI: @mayhemmiller is live-tweeting a standoff with police.
— Rener Gracie (@RenerGracie) October 9, 2014
Looks like @mayhemmiller is in some serious trouble. I hope he doesn’t get shot
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) October 9, 2014
I love @mayhemmiller he is a good guy and I hope he can get some help and get better soon. Sorry to c a good guy go through this
— Tim Sylvia (@timsylviamma) October 9, 2014
Both Mayhem and War Machine lived with me at times and were my guys.
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) October 9, 2014
Any interest?
I would be more then happy to give Jacare what he wants. Except I would do it at MW and Jan 3rd. (cont) http://t.co/9RFrGSfyLV
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) October 9, 2014
Billboard.
‘Fighting Irish’ Billboard on Dublin’s famous O’Connell Street. This historic street hosted m… http://t.co/Ikg9Fo3eMw pic.twitter.com/CE3Vjp4zyC
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 9, 2014
Get well soon.
?????? ????????. Best medicine. http://t.co/IxwQVB0aGE pic.twitter.com/hQqUWruBJl
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) October 9, 2014
Congrats.
Thank you!! RT @TalkMMA: Congrats to @mark_munoz on his new 4 fight deal with the @UFC. One of the nicest guys in this sport.
— Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) October 9, 2014
Never thought I would write a book about my life,but dam I’m actually excited about it.
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) October 10, 2014
He’s done it all.
“@DStandridge92: @Benaskren probably thinks he can beat Weidman too smh” already did. 15-3 in wrestling 🙂
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 10, 2014
#TBT I had to wrestle Cael when I was 18 at the US Open in 2003. Didn’t turn out well! http://t.co/0YnhIYUf6Q pic.twitter.com/BejPH6xhXo
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) October 9, 2014
Bleh beef.
@MikeChandlerMMA “you better pack a lunch”? Are you serious? What is this leave it to beaver? I can’t even talk to you bro. Just be ready
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) October 10, 2014
@illwillbrooks86 stop it nerd. You’re embarrassing yourself. Insecurity is unbecoming.
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) October 10, 2014
Damn.
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Here’s a late #TBT…our CFO John Mulkey, when we turned his office into a little kids room!
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Oct. 9 2014)
Daron Cruickshank vs. K.J. Noons at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale
Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington at UFC 181
Sergio Pettis vs. Matt Hobar at UFC 181
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via ByronD003.
Minute/Minute Scoring System vs 10 Point Must System
Everyday I’m going to score two controversial fights with the minute/minute system that I designed and match it next to the official judges score for you to see the difference and the flaw in not just the judges, but the 10 Point Must system. This fight was #NickDiaz vs #CarlosCondit #UFC143
Nick Diaz Carlos Condit
R1)9,10,10,10,10 49 10,9,9,9,10 47
R2)10,10,10,10,10 50 9,9,9,9,10 46
R3) 9,9,9,9,9 45 10,10,10,10,10 50
R4) 9,9,9,9,9 45 10,10,10,10,10 50
R5) 10,10,10,10,10 50 10,10,9,9,9 47Loser 239 Winner 240
Official Scorecard 48-47 Condit, 49-46 Condit, 49-46 Condit
Winner- Carlos Condit Unanimous Decision…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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