Eight Ways of Looking at the Enigma of Nick Diaz

Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceMiscreant, malcontent, misunderstood genius, rebel with a mostly imagined cause. Whatever you think of Nick Diaz, everyone thinks something.

After his 10th straight win and third consecutive title defense against Paul Dal…

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Miscreant, malcontent, misunderstood genius, rebel with a mostly imagined cause. Whatever you think of Nick Diaz, everyone thinks something.

After his 10th straight win and third consecutive title defense against Paul Daley in what may have been one of MMA’s greatest one-round fights, it seems fitting to take a closer look at one of our sport’s most fascinating – and, at times, frustrating – figures.

I. Diaz is a man with the virtues of his faults.
When it comes to stuff like showing up for media responsibilities or doing interviews (without threatening anyone) or doing any of the other little things that normal people take for granted, he struggles. When it comes to slugging it out against a man with the proven ability to knock people unconscious with a single blow – also known as the kind of thing most normal people could never do – he excels. The easy things are hard for him, and the hard things are easy. It’s the same with his fighting style. The qualities that make him capable of brawling to a win over a guy like Daley are the same qualities that make him refuse to use his own ground game even when it might be the smarter choice. He never backs away from conflict, and yet he sees conflicts even when there are none. At least he’s consistent.

Falling Action: Diaz vs. Daley

Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceBeing at the Valley View Casino Center for a Strikeforce event and watching the occasional ‘Ultimate Fighter’ ad on the big screen while Dana White and Scott Coker sat nearby, there were moments on Saturday night that felt …

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Being at the Valley View Casino Center for a Strikeforce event and watching the occasional ‘Ultimate Fighter’ ad on the big screen while Dana White and Scott Coker sat nearby, there were moments on Saturday night that felt a little too much like a dream you might have after drinking too much Rockstar and passing out on the couch with Spike TV on.

The fact that Nick Diaz brawled his way to a victory over Paul Daley only made it seem more surreal, and in the end I found myself wondering whether this was the best single night of Strikeforce fights I’d ever seen.

The answer? Probably, yeah. Which makes it seem a little bittersweet that it came on a card that Coker and his staff set up, only to have the UFC swoop in just in time to reap the rewards.

Now that it’s all over, time to sort through the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between after Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley.

Strikeforce Live Blog: Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley Round-by-Round Updates

Filed under: StrikeforceSAN DIEGO –This is the Strikeforce live blog for Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley, the main event of tonight’s Strikeforce on Showtime event at the Valley View Casino Center.

Diaz (24-7), who is making his third title defense, submitt…

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SAN DIEGO –This is the Strikeforce live blog for Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley, the main event of tonight’s Strikeforce on Showtime event at the Valley View Casino Center.

Diaz (24-7), who is making his third title defense, submitted Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos in January. Daley (27-9-2) has knocked out his last two opponents in Scott Smith and Yuya Shirai.

The live blog is below.

Nick Diaz Beats Paul Daley in Wild Strikeforce Brawl

Filed under: StrikeforceIn one of the best one-round fights in the history of mixed martial arts, Nick Diaz and Paul Daley pummeled each other for just under five minutes of back-and-forth action, with Diaz surviving multiple hard shots from Daley and …

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Nick Diaz defended his welterweight title against Paul Daley.In one of the best one-round fights in the history of mixed martial arts, Nick Diaz and Paul Daley pummeled each other for just under five minutes of back-and-forth action, with Diaz surviving multiple hard shots from Daley and eventually rocked Daley himself and finished Daley off by technical knockout with only three seconds remaining in the first round.

It was a great main event, and Diaz retained his Strikeforce welterweight title with his 10th consecutive victory.

The fight was an absolute thriller, and one that showed once again just how tough Diaz is: Daley is an incredibly powerful puncher, but Diaz took the best Daley had and answered every time.

Nick Diaz ‘Welcomed’ Daley’s Power, and the Brawl That Came With It

Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsSAN DIEGO – Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz and challenger Paul Daley began their title fight at the Valley View Casino Center on Saturday night like two men who had no idea that the bout was scheduled for five…

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SAN DIEGO – Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz and challenger Paul Daley began their title fight at the Valley View Casino Center on Saturday night like two men who had no idea that the bout was scheduled for five rounds.

The pace Diaz and Daley set early on made it clear that neither had any intention of going the distance, as both men took turns dropping each other to the mat with blistering punches throughout the first round. While Diaz was able to recover from his early scare, Daley was not. He collapsed to the canvas in the final minute and was quickly finished off by several more right hands from Diaz, bringing a halt to the bout at 4:57 of round one.

“I just come to fight,” Diaz said at the post-fight press conference. “Whatever happens out there happens.”

Nick Diaz Thinks He Will Get Suspended After Paul Daley Win

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SAN DIEGO — MMA Fighting spoke to Nick Diaz following his thrilling win over Paul Daley on Saturday night. The Strikeforce welterweight champion talked about the way the fight played out, why he thinks he will get suspended after the fight, why he thinks he is overworked and whether his teammate Gilbert Melendez’s win inspired him.

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SAN DIEGO — MMA Fighting spoke to Nick Diaz following his thrilling win over Paul Daley on Saturday night. The Strikeforce welterweight champion talked about the way the fight played out, why he thinks he will get suspended after the fight, why he thinks he is overworked and whether his teammate Gilbert Melendez’s win inspired him.