Montreal—Leave it to Nick Diaz to be the talk of an event that he didn’t even bother to show up for, but that was the case at today’s UFC 158 open workouts.
Diaz was booked to workout between noon and one in a time slot he shared with co-main event combatant Johny Hendricks. After Hendricks completed his workout as well as his media obligations, there was no sign of Diaz.
Instead what the fans and media got was a demonstration from Karaté Sunfuki Longueuil, a local karate school. While I’m sure the friends and family of the youngsters that got to show their moves inside the Octagon were happy for that moment, the UFC and fans that came expecting to see UFC 158’s co-main event fighter workout were disappointed at best.
After UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, the man that Diaz is set to face on Saturday night, completed his duties inside the Octagon, he made his way to the assembled media. Of course, the questions focused on Diaz, not on the longtime UFC champion.
Speaking in clipped tones, St-Pierre answered the questions thrown his way, but it was fairly clear he was less than happy about things. “It doesn’t change anything in my life,” the champion said about Diaz no-showing the event. “I don’t worry about him, I worry only about myself. I don’t care.”
As far as what it would mean if Diaz didn’t show up for tomorrow’s pre-fight press conference, St-Pierre seemed unconcerned, “He will show up, he’s going to show up for sure.”
One thing St-Pierre made clear was that while the trash talk from Diaz may have been cute at some point, it had grown old and tiring and he just wanted to be done with it, “It’s getting old, after Saturday it will be over. It’s amusing sometimes, but right now it’s different.”
The UFC 158 pre-fight presser will take place on Thursday at noon at the Bell Centre and it will only be open to the media. Bleacher Report will be on-hand in Montreal to cover if any fireworks go off. Stay tuned.
**All quotes obtained first hand
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