Since Nate Diaz hit the big time on The Ultimate Fighter 5, he’s been largely viewed as Nick Diaz’s kid brother. Indeed, Nate relished in the label out of the immense respect he holds for Nick, but after earning himself a title shot in the deepest division in the sport, Nate is now officially his own man.
Like Nick, any analysis of Nate Diaz is typically met with fanatical reaction. You either love him or you hate him; there is no middle ground.
But even Diaz’s most ardent critics must now admit that Nate is a phenomenal mixed martial artist, who, win or lose, comes to fight his guts out.
Maybe it’s the in-cage smack talk, the flexing, the taunts or simply his relation to the notorious Nick Diaz, but Nate rubs many people the wrong way.
To his fans, Diaz represents a sort of purity in fighting. He’s not just an athlete out to collect a paycheck. Diaz takes his fighting personally, and his behavior reflects that. However, when the buzzer sounds and the victor is crowned, even if it’s not him, Diaz the sportsman appears to embrace his opponent.
All MMA fans, regardless of their personal feelings for Nate Diaz, must respect his skills, though. When the cage door closes behind his back, those personal feelings should be put aside because it’s time to sit on the edge of your chair and just enjoy the show.
Diaz is an exciting fighter. In 16 UFC appearances, five of them losses, he’s never been finished. And of his 11 wins, he’s finished nine of those fights, seven by submission.
Diaz has quietly racked up nine Fight Night bonuses. That’s one more than Anderson Silva, and only one less than the reigning bonus king, Chris Lytle. At only 27 years old with a fighting deserving of fat bonus checks, he will almost certainly surpass Lytle. Just take a quick look at his stats.
Now of course there’s more to being an exciting fighter than just cashing checks, but you don’t get nine of them by being boring. Nate gives the fans what they want every time he steps into the Octagon. You don’t have to like him, but you do have to acknowledge that he is an exciting, young fighter.
Nate Diaz has earned his title shot, and unlike his brother, he will be at every press event. He will “play the game” because as much alike as the Diaz brothers are, Nate is not only his own man, but his own fighter.
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