Although MMA is relatively young compared to other combat sports, it has seen a number of stars come and go. Years of hard work in the gym and in the cage/ring tend to pay off big time when a fighter can finally become that top attraction and earn a li…
Although MMA is relatively young compared to other combat sports, it has seen a number of stars come and go. Years of hard work in the gym and in the cage/ring tend to pay off big time when a fighter can finally become that top attraction and earn a living doing what they love to do.
Some of these fighters embody the blue-collar work ethic that the average person can easily identify with. They come from humble beginnings and work their way up the rankings. However, others enter the MMA scene with the spotlight immediately upon them.
Despite many of them still learning the ropes, these fighters were under the MMA microscope as soon as they stepped into the sport. Some panned out while others flamed out, but without a doubt these have to be near the top of anyone’s list when thinking of the most hyped fighters in the history of MMA.
At Friday night’s UFC on Fox 5 pre-fight festivities, Nate Diaz proudly carried on the Diaz family tradition of weigh-in weirdness.The lightweight title challenger came in six-tenths of a pound over the 155-pound limit, then missed the limit again in a…
At Friday night’s UFC on Fox 5pre-fight festivities, Nate Diaz proudly carried on the Diaz family tradition of weigh-in weirdness.
The lightweight title challenger came in six-tenths of a pound over the 155-pound limit, then missed the limit again in a second attempt before finally hitting it on his third try.
When Diaz stepped on the scales, he initially weighed 155.6 pounds. Lightweight champion Benson Henderson—wearing a Seattle Sonics basketball jersey to curry favor with the crowd—then clocked in at 154.6 pounds. This is noteworthy because the champ probably had just a bit more weight to cut in this instance than the challenger. Or a lot more.
Diaz was forced to try again without his shorts (fighters must not exceed the weight limit at all for title fights). With his second attempt, he came in at 155.2 pounds.
Diaz then had an hour to lose the final extra mass. And on the third try, he met the 155-pound limit.
On the one hand, no harm no foul. Diaz met the limit, and he did so within the rules. It’s not something worth losing one’s mind over.
On the other hand, his last name is Diaz. Both Nate and brother Nick have had their share of weigh-in drama.
It is clear the Diaz brothers want, and maybe need, a little of that drama to get the combat juices flowing. But to miss weight for a title fight (even once) probably isn’t what they had in mind, and it speaks to a certain and persistent lack of attention to the things that are important to fighting besides, you know, fighting. Like press conferences and weighing a certain amount and all that stuff.
And if Nate Diaz wasn’t aware that fighters don’t get a pound of leeway in a title fight situation, then that is on his team and they should be ashamed. A simple miscalculation is silly; a mental lapse like that would be unacceptable.
Either way, I can’t wait to see what Nick does to top his brother when he fights Georges St-Pierre. Maybe he’ll eat a microphone.
The UFC has landed in Seattle with a true pay-per-view-caliber fight card that will be broadcast for free on Fox. This week has been filled with storylines pertaining to Ronda Rousey, GSP and Nick Diaz. Let’s cut through all of that and focus on the gr…
The UFC has landed in Seattle with a true pay-per-view-caliber fight card that will be broadcast for free on Fox.
This week has been filled with storylines pertaining to Ronda Rousey, GSP and Nick Diaz. Let’s cut through all of that and focus on the great event we have in store for us on Saturday night.
Here are three reasons to be excited for the UFC on Fox 5 card.
Canadian welterweight Rory MacDonald steps into the Octagon against legend BJ Penn on Saturday night.He’s big, mean and hungry to succeed in his UFC career.MacDonald has looked like a monster since he first fought in the UFC. He has put on excellent pe…
Canadian welterweight Rory MacDonald steps into the Octagon against legend BJ Penn on Saturday night.
He’s big, mean and hungry to succeed in his UFC career.
MacDonald has looked like a monster since he first fought in the UFC. He has put on excellent performances that have the UFC brass and fans taking notice.
Let’s take a look at ranking Rory MacDonald’s five UFC fights to date.
He’s young, he’s brash and the kid can fight.Since his return to lightweight, Nate Diaz has been on a tear, running through his last three opponents. It’s this kind of dominance in the UFC that has earned him a title shot against resi…
He’s young, he’s brash and the kid can fight.
Since his return to lightweight, Nate Diaz has been on a tear, running through his last three opponents. It’s this kind of dominance in the UFC that has earned him a title shot against resilient champ Benson Henderson.
Since first appearing on The Ultimate Fighter Season 5, Diaz has shown that his skills as a fighter have improved leaps and bounds, and he is no longer just Nick’s Diaz little brother. With his title shot just days away, his ultimate goal is within reach.
“The Ultimate Show” sat down with Nate Diaz to hear his thoughts on his next opponent, Benson Henderson, and what he plans to do come Saturday, December 8 in Seattle.
Be sure to sound off and let us know what you think in the comments below. If you like what you see, click here for more from Bleacher Report Productions.
The headliner of UFC on FOX 5, pitting champion Benson Henderson against the ever-improving Nate Diaz, should by all accounts be a thrilling affair. Both Henderson and Diaz have mastered their styles and both rely on high quantity output to guide them …
The headliner of UFC on FOX 5, pitting champion Benson Henderson against the ever-improving Nate Diaz, should by all accounts be a thrilling affair. Both Henderson and Diaz have mastered their styles and both rely on high quantity output to guide them to victory.
While these two have opposing attitudes, they share a few in-cage traits—the most significant being the refusal to relent. Both men will aim to win this fight, but they’ll likely use two completely different approaches. Whose plan of attack will emerge superior is a mystery at this point, but one thing seems certain: These two will put on one stimulating show.
Having thrown some general redundancy out there for you, I’m going to switch gears a bit. Here’s a handful of predictions that go against the anticipated grain of the fight.
At Friday night’s