Even with now UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks booked to face Robbie Lawler Saturday night at UFC 171, his loudest opponent by far was none other than Stockton’s favorite son, Nick Diaz.
When asked by Sportsnet’s Showdown Joe what exactly he was doing in Dallas, Diaz seems to think the UFC is just setting the stage for his eventual title clash with Hendricks.
“Maybe [UFC] want me to Johny Hendricks. Take an a** whooping. Right to your face, bro. Worse than tonight, because you got your a** whooped all four rounds. I seen it. I seen your little amateur style. I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to fight the right fight.
“Trying to get a fight this year. Talked to Dana [White], hardly, but he knows my mindset. He knows where I’m at. Behind the scenes here [in Dallas] everyone knows what’s going on. That’s what’s up. Me in a title fight. I need a real fight. Let the fans have what they want to see. That’s why I’m here.
Claiming he isn’t the least bit interested in the bevy of other welterweight contenders, Diaz is pretty clear about his focus on Hendricks.
“Everybody’s going to make more money. Fans get to see what they want to see. You want to see people get tapped out or knocked out? You want to see a real fight? You want to see drama queens act drama? Want to see real motherf***ers act real?
“[Hendricks] should never have opened his mouth around me. We don’t have no beef, though. I like Johny. I think he’s a nice guy, but he tried to get loud with me, I get loud with him back. It’s all business. It’s a good fight.”
Diaz hasn’t actually scored a win since his 2011 drubbing of B.J. Penn at UFC 137, but that didn’t stop him from being awarded a title shot against former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre last March at UFC 158. Diaz is also said to have turned down a rematch with Carlos Condit, the man who beat him out for the division’s interim title at UFC 143. 0-2 since 2011, it would seem fairly unlikely Diaz would be given another shot at the title without putting together a few solid performances.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Aftermath. Dave Doyle breaks down everything that was at UFC 171.
Part II. Johny Hendricks says he’d fight Georges St-Pierre next if he had his way.
Try the beef. Diego Sanchez is now blaming some questionable steak tartare for his poor showing against Myles Jury.
Condit’s knee. After sustaining a knee injury against Tyron Woodley at UFC 171, Carlos Condit was reportedly diagnosed with a possible small meniscus tear as well as a potential torn ACL.
Next at welterweight. After a number of fans complained that a Rory MacDonald video package was ready to roll once UFC 171 wrapped up, Joe Rogan took to the web to explain the situation.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 171 post-fight press conference highlights (full presser here)
Annnnnnnnd NEW!
Highlights from Carlos Condit vs. Tyron Woodley.
Highlights from ONE FC: War of Nations.
Quite the MMA debut for Ryan ‘Nobody puts Baby in the corner’ Stuckmeyer. (skip to 3:30)
Ronda Rousey with some NCAA bracket tips.
Long watches.
Here ya go- The Notorious Conor McGregor (Documentary)
GLORY 14 Zagreb – Lightweight Title Fight, Davit Kiria vs. Andy Ristie (Full Video) {skip to 14:00}
TWEETS
As always, make sure to check out our Pros React piece from UFC 171.
Victory lap.
Fathers dream, so grateful to my daughters my wife my coaches and all of you for the support I thrive on pic.twitter.com/eH488INyFQ
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) March 16, 2014
Dallas thx the hospitality! @CarlosCondit thx 4 being 1 of the last humble Mixed Martial Artist left. Pray 4 speedy recovery @ufc #TitleNext
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) March 16, 2014
Hope you all liked that! Thank you all. @JuryJJ #JuryJiuJitsu pic.twitter.com/1qKok9svBk
— Myles Jury (@FuryJury) March 16, 2014
Thanks everyone for the support! #UFC171 submission victory and a bonus. Boom! pic.twitter.com/rXGna8f8Ek
— Ovince St. Preux (@003_OSP) March 16, 2014
My right knee/thigh is not feeling 100% 2day after those knees I landed last night 😏 http://t.co/1caUJkdPlf
— Dennis Bermudez (@MenaceBermudez) March 16, 2014
“That was an absolute fist fest, but I got the victory” –@AlexGarciaMMA #UFC171 #Prelims pic.twitter.com/WXgoVp9VUq
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) March 16, 2014
— Frank Trevino (@SitkayanUFC) March 16, 2014
Victory breakfast back in Fl @ufc @americantopteam http://t.co/hIMqt95ng5
— jedi master tank (@TankScogginsMMA) March 16, 2014
Thanks to every 1 for there support,I am humbled by it all#dreambigbelieve
— Robert Whiteford UFC (@Flyinjudoka) March 16, 2014
Better luck next time.
@Ruthless_RL @ufc thanks man much appreciated and you are one hell of a fighter and no doubt we will see each other again.
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) March 17, 2014
I just want to thank all the fans for motivating me thru the long training camp. I fight for you! I appreciate you! I love you! #GREATNESS
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 16, 2014
Well I thought for sure I had that one! My hats off to Kelvin great fight my man! If I get a bonus vote for me to… http://t.co/ao04t1kpkG
— Rick (@Rick_Story) March 16, 2014
Sorry everyone. Really dropped the ball tonight. Thanks again for all my friends n fam for the support.
— Jimy Hettes (@jimhettes) March 16, 2014
@TankScogginsMMA wish I could have gave you a better fight. Couldn’t pull the trigger tonight. You’re on the way man. Big things
— William Campuzano (@willcampuzano) March 16, 2014
That damn raw meat!
I wasn’t my self last night I sustained Food poisoning from eating a beef tar tar with raw quail egg as a appetizer at dinner
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 16, 2014
This was my own mistake I ordered it thinking I need red meat but raw was the wrong choice, I threw up first at at 2am & all day fight day.
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 16, 2014
This was not part of @TheDolceDiet I screwed my self! I thought because I had done everything do perfect I could sway a little & it cost me.
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 16, 2014
I was weak and my performance showed it if you notice I don’t go for one takedown because I just didn’t have the strength,
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 16, 2014
Jury and his team fought a good fight against me and they did win, but I wanted my fans to know the truth why I was not all there.
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 16, 2014
Take what you want from it it is the truth. I made a horrible choice and it’s no ones fault but mine.
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 16, 2014
Yea people gonna talk shit I know but I wanted my fans the ones who care and could see I was not myself why I was not my self
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 16, 2014
There it is right there on the menu at the restaurant in my hotel http://t.co/NmND0TI5eW yea I royaly screwed my self
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 16, 2014
People can talk all the shit they want. I didn’t bitch out. I chased him around and fought hard even at my worst. It just wasn’t my night.
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 16, 2014
I’m heart broken and very very motivated it hurts so bad. I’ll be back better than ever!
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) March 16, 2014
The contenders.
After last night I know that I am the TRUE no 1 contender. I’m just not a good enough self promoter. #fuckpolitics #immortalchamp2014
— Matthew Brown (@IamTheImmortal) March 16, 2014
Who wants to see me fight @JohnyHendricks in vancouver for the @ufc welterweight title? Bringing the title back to canada!! @danawhite
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) March 16, 2014
Title Shot! What’s is the question!? @danawhite @ufc @lorenzofertitta let’s go! #ufc171
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) March 16, 2014
Great fight.
Can’t wait until this one. CURRAN VS PITBULL 2. I beat him before, and I’m going to completely… http://t.co/8CwflVRnsx
— Pat Curran (@PatCurranMMA) March 16, 2014
Ppl keep askin “why are you happy over a lose” my answer “you’ll never understand the satisfaction of gettin better after a lose”
— Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) March 16, 2014
Calling out the 209.
ppl wanna see me & @NateDiaz209 fight @NateDiaz209 I suggest u quit acting like a scared little bi**h & fight me do I have to go 209 on u
— Michael Johnson (@FollowTheMenace) March 14, 2014
Southbound.
Gettin ready for take off, 12 hrs to Sao Paulo then off to Natal! pic.twitter.com/qNUTPKbihs
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) March 17, 2014
Nightmare fuel.
Sunday fun day pic.twitter.com/yVYXFJYfvC
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) March 16, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Mar. 14-16 2014)
NA
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via logical_josh.
UFC 171 Aftermath: What to do With all of These Welterweights
The biggest question stemming from UFC 171 is: who should get the next title shot?
There is no clear-cut, unabashed, quality #1 contender. Legitimate arguments can be made for Woodley, Lombard and Brown (if he wins), but none of them are undisputed. If the UFC is going to promote a title fight with a questionable contender they might as well make it the most-known fighter with the largest amount of championship experience. Nick Diaz would give the UFC a highly marketable fight, that fans would love to see; more importantly, it would give the rest of the division a chance to establish a more worthy contender. Here’s how:
#1 Contender Fight: Hector Lombard vs Tyron Woodley: The winner earns a title shot by getting another top-10 win and owning a 3 fight win streak.
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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