Say it ain’t so, Nick.
Following a five-round unanimous-decision loss to welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, multiple sources, including MMA Supremacy, are citing a possible retirement plan for Nick Diaz.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard retirement rumblings from the 29-year-old fighter, as Yahoo! Sports notes that Diaz almost called it a career after losing to Carlos Condit in February 2012.
After the loss, this is what Diaz had to say regarding his future in the UFC (via Yahoo! Sports):
“I have to decide if I even want to do this anymore. To be honest, I don’t know if I really got any more. I don’t make excuses; I think I’m done with mixed martial arts. I’m tired of getting banged up like this.”
After hearing those comments, it sounds like a typical Diaz sound bite—firing off at the mouth and letting his emotions get the best of him.
And fire off at the mouth he did. After spewing words of possible retirement, Diaz backtracked, believing he still thinks he can beat St-Pierre (via Yahoo! Sports).
Despite losing back-to-back fights, Diaz still has enough left in the tank to continue fighting.
The loss to St-Pierre came after roughly a yearlong layoff after testing positive for marijuana, and he still took the fight a full five rounds.
Diaz lost the match to St-Pierre on the ground, as the champ’s wrestling skills were too much for Diaz, but I think we need to see Diaz in at least one more stand-up fight where he can utilize his boxing skills before he hangs up the gloves.
For what it’s worth, even UFC president Dana White doesn’t think Diaz should retire, nor does fellow fighter John Dodson III.
It’s anyone’s guess as to what Diaz will do, but it would be a shame for a guy who still has the potential to contend for a title to call it quits.
He’s one of the most established fighters in the history of MMA—fighting for UFC, EliteXC, IFC, WEC, Strikeforce and PRIDE championships—and still has a lot to offer the UFC.
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