(Video courtesy of YouTube/UFC)
We’re not sure if it was creative editing or if Nick Diaz has had a change of heart about his views on the PR obligations of being a fighter, but Stockton’s favorite son almost seemed happy doing this pre-UFC 137 promo for UFC.com.
Arguably the most interesting tidbit from the oft misunderstood former Strikeforce welterweight champ in the brief clip is that his UFC 137 opponent, BJ Penn is his favorite fighter.
“He’s my favorite fighter. He’s better than they are. He’s better than everybody. I know where he came from; he came from my school. As far as I’m concerned he came from where I came from and that’s why he’s here. I gotta win these fights. I don’t think it matters what I do; I think I have to win. I love competition. It gets me right. It makes everything work,” Diaz explained. “I know who’s in this sport. It’s shit…not what I do. MMA fans, in general, are looking forward to this fight. I kind of think that we have some of the same style, therefore we have some of the same fans and I respect his style of fighting.”
Another somewhat surprising statement Diaz made is that he isn’t happy hurting anybody he fights, unless of course they interrupt his buddy’s post-fight victory celebration.
“I don’t want to hurt anybody. I don’t want anybody to be hurt. I want to win. I want to come out on top. I want to be in exciting fights. This is all I’ve got. This is who I am.”
Diaz closes the interview off with a smart reply to the stupid question of, “What’s your game plan for this fight?”
“I have the same game plan every fight, and that’s to win — win the fight.”
And yes, that’s a smile he cracked at the end. Looks like Nick is playing the game and playing it well.