Apparently Nate Diaz was more of a “cops and robbers” kid than a “cowboys and Indians” one growing up and we’re going to go out on a limb and guess he didn’t pretend to be on the good side of the law either.
Nate, who makes up 1/2 of the UFC’s version of The Nasty Boys kept up appearances during the staredowns as he flipped off Donald Cerrone’s trademark cowboy hat before shoving his upcoming opponent for good measure. Alistair Overeem seems unimpressed and barely bats an eye at the confrontation. Where he comes from, pulling something like that would get you slashed with a bottle.
LAS VEGAS — Things got heated between UFC 141 co-main eventers Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz following Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference, which led to Diaz knocking off Cerrone’s cowboy hat and shoving his opponent on Friday night. Watch the video below.
LAS VEGAS — Things got heated between UFC 141 co-main eventers Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz following Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference, which led to Diaz knocking off Cerrone’s cowboy hat and shoving his opponent on Friday night. Watch the video below.
LAS VEGAS — Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz were playing so nicely together for most of Wednesday’s UFC 141 pre-fight press conference. Then they came face to face for the customary staredown photo op, and that’s when it all fell apart.
While the two posed for the cameras in one another’s personal space, Cerrone muttered something to Diaz that made the Stockton, Calif.-native slap Cerrone’s trademark cowboy hat off his head and then back him up with a shove before the two were separated.
And really, UFC president Dana White should have seen this one coming, but he too was taken in by their amicable demeanors up until that point, he said.
“I was expecting it,” said White, who chastised himself for being too slow to step in. “But they were being so cool today, I didn’t see it coming.”
According to White, “Cerrone said something like, ‘I’m getting in that [expletive] tomorrow’ or something. …That’s why [Diaz] did it.” But of course, this feud has deeper roots, and both men know it.
The story goes that, well before this fight was signed, Cerrone tried to introduce himself to Diaz when he saw him talking to longtime friend and teammate Leonard Garcia. Diaz slapped his hand away and swore at him before walking off, which didn’t exactly make Cerrone hesitant to accept a fight with Diaz when it was offered shortly thereafter, he told reporters at Tuesday’s open workouts.
But at Wednesday’s press conference, it seemed like even Cerrone had realized that, when it comes to one of the Diaz brothers, stuff like that isn’t personal — it’s just how they operate.
“I never met the kid. I went up to shake his hand. I understand where he comes from. He doesn’t want to be friends. He doesn’t want any kind of interaction with any guys who he fights, and that’s just how he approaches his fights. At the time, I didn’t realize that. …Words were exchanged. The fight’s signed, and Friday we’re going to dance.”
Diaz remarked that the incident had been made “into more than it really was,” and Cerrone seemed to accept that explanation, saying, “I didn’t understand at first, but if that’s the way he approaches it. …If that’s what he has to do to get ready to fight, hey, hate me, love me, I don’t care. We’re fighting.”
Maybe they weren’t quite on the path to becoming best friends, but at least it was something resembling professional courtesy. Then came the staredown, the muttered comment, and the hat slap. While it might seem like good pre-fight build-up, White is not a fan, he explained later.
“There’s going to be times when heated stuff happens,” he said. “I’m not happy that Nate slapped Cerrone’s hat off today. I don’t like the guys touching each other [before the fight]. That’s why I’m standing there. I’m not there to mug up into the camera. I’m there to make sure that [expletive] doesn’t happen. I didn’t do my job today, apparently.”
White said he wasn’t “overly concerned about it,” but the negative appearance created by two fighters laying hands on one another in public days before they’re actually supposed to is still “something that I think about, no doubt about it,” the UFC president remarked.
Fortunately, this incident amounted to little more than an exciting few seconds in the lobby of the MGM Grand. And after all, it’s not like they won’t get a chance to settle their differences very soon, White pointed out, and in a fashion they both understand.
“Everybody knows how nasty the Diaz brothers are,” said White. “But Donald Cerrone’s not the nicest guy in the world either, you know what I mean?”
LAS VEGAS — Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz were playing so nicely together for most of Wednesday’s UFC 141 pre-fight press conference. Then they came face to face for the customary staredown photo op, and that’s when it all fell apart.
While the two posed for the cameras in one another’s personal space, Cerrone muttered something to Diaz that made the Stockton, Calif.-native slap Cerrone’s trademark cowboy hat off his head and then back him up with a shove before the two were separated.
And really, UFC president Dana White should have seen this one coming, but he too was taken in by their amicable demeanors up until that point, he said.
“I was expecting it,” said White, who chastised himself for being too slow to step in. “But they were being so cool today, I didn’t see it coming.”
According to White, “Cerrone said something like, ‘I’m getting in that [expletive] tomorrow’ or something. …That’s why [Diaz] did it.” But of course, this feud has deeper roots, and both men know it.
The story goes that, well before this fight was signed, Cerrone tried to introduce himself to Diaz when he saw him talking to longtime friend and teammate Leonard Garcia. Diaz slapped his hand away and swore at him before walking off, which didn’t exactly make Cerrone hesitant to accept a fight with Diaz when it was offered shortly thereafter, he told reporters at Tuesday’s open workouts.
But at Wednesday’s press conference, it seemed like even Cerrone had realized that, when it comes to one of the Diaz brothers, stuff like that isn’t personal — it’s just how they operate.
“I never met the kid. I went up to shake his hand. I understand where he comes from. He doesn’t want to be friends. He doesn’t want any kind of interaction with any guys who he fights, and that’s just how he approaches his fights. At the time, I didn’t realize that. …Words were exchanged. The fight’s signed, and Friday we’re going to dance.”
Diaz remarked that the incident had been made “into more than it really was,” and Cerrone seemed to accept that explanation, saying, “I didn’t understand at first, but if that’s the way he approaches it. …If that’s what he has to do to get ready to fight, hey, hate me, love me, I don’t care. We’re fighting.”
Maybe they weren’t quite on the path to becoming best friends, but at least it was something resembling professional courtesy. Then came the staredown, the muttered comment, and the hat slap. While it might seem like good pre-fight build-up, White is not a fan, he explained later.
“There’s going to be times when heated stuff happens,” he said. “I’m not happy that Nate slapped Cerrone’s hat off today. I don’t like the guys touching each other [before the fight]. That’s why I’m standing there. I’m not there to mug up into the camera. I’m there to make sure that [expletive] doesn’t happen. I didn’t do my job today, apparently.”
White said he wasn’t “overly concerned about it,” but the negative appearance created by two fighters laying hands on one another in public days before they’re actually supposed to is still “something that I think about, no doubt about it,” the UFC president remarked.
Fortunately, this incident amounted to little more than an exciting few seconds in the lobby of the MGM Grand. And after all, it’s not like they won’t get a chance to settle their differences very soon, White pointed out, and in a fashion they both understand.
“Everybody knows how nasty the Diaz brothers are,” said White. “But Donald Cerrone’s not the nicest guy in the world either, you know what I mean?”
(And now, two useless MMA commentators miss a fantastic standing heel-hook finish while trying to figure out how to pronounce “Vovchanchyn.” Props: EliteMMA)
Some selected highlights from our friends around the MMA blogosphere…
(And now, two useless MMA commentators miss a fantastic standing heel-hook finish while trying to figure out how to pronounce “Vovchanchyn.” Props: EliteMMA)
Some selected highlights from our friends around the MMA blogosphere…
Filed under: UFCAt the UFC 141 pre-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White, heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem and lightweights Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz will meet the media on Wednesday in Las Vegas, and we’ll carry the live vi…
At the UFC 141 pre-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White, heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem and lightweights Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz will meet the media on Wednesday in Las Vegas, and we’ll carry the live video here at MMAFighting.com.
UFC 141 is one of the biggest MMA cards of the year, and the pre-fight press conference will be the final opportunity for reporters and fans to hear from the fighters prior to their fights.
The UFC 141 press conference begins at 4 p.m. ET and the video is below.
(Editor’s note: The press conference is over, but just hit rewind button in player below to watch it again.)
Filed under: UFCFor UFC 141, the Vegas-based promotion is back home in the arms of the city that’s never more than one good heater away from turning this mess around. Will Friday night be the evening you finally outsmart the oddsmakers and let your obs…
For UFC 141, the Vegas-based promotion is back home in the arms of the city that’s never more than one good heater away from turning this mess around. Will Friday night be the evening you finally outsmart the oddsmakers and let your obsessive MMA knowledge pay you back for all those pay-per-views? Only one way to find out…
The line on Overeem has gone as high as -200 in some places before coming back down to the more reasonable levels we see here. We all know how Lesnar feels about being the underdog. Or at least, we know that asking him how he feels about it is a great way to get him to suddenly terminate your interview. But why are fans and oddsmakers so hot on Overeem, who didn’t look spectacular in his last outing, and has had every distraction possible without beginning an acting career in the lead-up to this fight?
If I had to guess, I’d say it’s a combination of Overeem’s experience and a general pessimism about Lesnar. A little over a year ago he was the baddest man on the planet to many onlookers, but one loss and one colon-chopping surgery later and people are wondering if he’ll retire if he can’t beat Overeem. For better or worse, the pendulum swings hard on the subject of Lesnar, and there’s very little middle ground to be found. But the fact is, the former NCAA wrestling champ presents a difficult challenge for Overeem, who hasn’t faced a takedown threat this significant since, well, ever. Seriously, look at Overeem’s record and find me another big man with Lesnar’s wrestling skills. It’s one thing to shut down Fabricio Werdum’s takedowns, but Lesnar is a whole different problem. If Overeem had spent months working diligently on his takedown defense — in fact, if he had spent months doing any one thing in any one place — I’d be more optimistic. With all the distractions, the roving camp, and the possibility of Octagon jitters for a man with an unproven ability to shut down a powerhouse wrestler, optimism is in short supply over here. My pick: Lesnar. There’s always the possibility that one good punch or knee from The Reem will change his world, but when I add up all the variables I have no problem justifying the slight underdog pick.
This feels like an instance of oddsmakers getting the right guy, but to the wrong degree. Cerrone deserves to be the favorite, especially after the year he’s had, but Diaz’s tenacity, durability, and submissions game make him impossible to count out. Even if Cerrone batters Diaz bloody on the feet — and he very well may — he’s probably going to have to keep it up for three rounds. Diaz doesn’t go down easily, and his sheer pace and pressure has been known to make opponents do dumb things from time to time. At the same time, Diaz doesn’t seem capable of performing the kind of risk/reward calculus necessary to conclude that he needs to get the fight to the mat. If you’re beating him on the feet, chances are it will only make him more committed to fighting on the feet. If that’s the case, his best hope might be to keep the heat on and trash-talk Cerrone into a stupid mistake. My pick: Cerrone. I couldn’t possibly justify favoring him to this extreme, so I’ll save it for the parlay.
Oh, did you forget Fitch was on this card? You’re probably not alone. It’s easy to get dwarfed by the enormity of Lesnar and Overeem, and the Cerrone-Diaz fight promises exactly the kind of fireworks that a typical Fitch fight all but rules out. As a result, he flies under the radar in another fight that he’ll most likely win with his methodical, technical brilliance on the mat. You have to hand it to him: the man is outstanding at what he does. It’s just too bad that so many fans don’t enjoy what he does, no matter how well he does it. Hendricks would seem to have the pure wresting credentials to strap on the singlet and go takedown for takedown with Fitch, but he doesn’t quite have the high-level experience to make you feel comfortable with picking him over a vet like Fitch. My pick: Fitch. It won’t be much fun to watch, but it will be in my parlay.
It’s kind of amazing that the 41-year-old Matyushenko still has this much steam. He’s not in the title hunt at the moment, but when you look at the loss column of his record all you see are serious players (okay, and Vernon White, who Vladdy will still tell you he should have beaten that night in 1999). Still, the odds reflect a general feeling that Gustafsson is on his way up the ranks, whereas Matyushenko is doing well just to hang around where he is. Could Matyushenko outwrestle the big Swede? Sure he could. But just because Phil Davis managed to do it, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. My pick: Gustafsson. That line is slightly ridiculous, however, so I’ll add it to the parlay.
Have other people been seeing a different Nam Phan than I have lately? Because the guy I’ve seen is competent and fairly well-rounded, but he’s the not the type of guy I’d lay 2-1 odds for when he’s fighting a submissions wiz who has yet to find out what defeat tastes like. Granted, we don’t know if Hettes’ chokes are as easily applied to the upper echelon guys, but while Phan’s fought the bigger names, he didn’t always do so well against them. It’s not so hard to imagine him being taken down and submitted, just like it’s not so hard to imagine me talking myself into taking one of the safer underdogs on the card just so I don’t feel like a wuss for going with so many favorites. My pick: Hettes. There’s a chance Phan could prove himself worthy of those odds, but I don’t think he’s done it yet.
Quick picks:
– Matt Riddle (-130) over Luis Ramos (even). Riddle knows he needs a win, so look for him to play it smart and get it by any means necessary.
– Ross Pearson (-280) over Junior Assuncao (+220). No, it’s not exactly daring, but it is a safe place for your hard-earned money.
The ‘For Entertainment Purposes Only’ Parlay: You know what? Forget my weak list of favorites and very slight underdogs. If you’ve got guts and a little pocket change, I recommend taking a look at this totally insane parlay that our friends at Middle Easy have stumbled upon. It’s a longshot that could make for a very happy New Year.
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