Filed under: Strikeforce
Over the last two-and-a-half years, Nick Diaz has found a quality that eludes all but the best fighters: consistency. With all of the various methods of attacks and permutations that lie within them, MMA can be a terrifyingly dizzying sport in which to participate. Yet Diaz seems to have made the leap to where he has an innate feel between himself and his opponent, leading to an eight-fight win streak.
The Strikeforce welterweight champion attempts to defend his belt for the second time, this time against Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos, a fighter whose record does not necessarily match his fearsome style. “Cyborg” is a throwback in the sense that he cares little about planning or technique, often letting his fights devolve into battles of attrition, and for that, he’s become a favorite among hardcore fans who appreciate that type of old-school mentality. Among more mainstream fans, Santos is hardly known. Even in a sport like MMA where records are not the only report card on a fighter’s career, Santos’ 18-13 mark has him underappreciated by many who see that type of number and automatically think “journeyman.”
Because of that, Diaz is a heavy favorite to beat Santos at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg.