MMAConvert.com

News is coming out that Nick Diaz is creating a new fight promotion based out of Stockton, California called War Mixed Martial Arts. This begs one very prominent question: Why is a guy who hates promoting fights starting a business to promote fights? It’s not like Diaz is particularly business savvy, though he has always understood the fight game better than most. I think those sorts of street smarts can serve him well as a fight promoter.

Nick Diaz can definitely be a useful tool for a fight promotion. With Nick Diaz you always had to worry about  whether or not Diaz could pass his drug tests. In a role as a promoter he can smoke all the weed he wants and it won’t matter. If he wants to smoke every day of the week, he can do that and there will still be fights.

Diaz is also a huge star in the Stockton area which will help the promotion draw local fans based on Diaz alone. Then, if they put on good fights, they will start coming for the fights. People will be intrigued by the promotion simply because Diaz’s name is on it.

Since Diaz has stated that he apparently doesn’t pay taxes, being a promoter provides him a nice revenue stream aside from working as Jiu-Jitsu coach or trainer with the Cesar Gracie camp. It would be foolish to think that Diaz will be handling the real, day to day activities of a fight promotion. But, as long as he can get someone who can work behind the scenes to make sure that all the t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted, then Diaz can be an asset to the promotion. Much like Ray Sefo, he can serve as a celebrity mouthpiece that gives credibility to a young promotion.

Photo Credit- Kelvin Kuo – USA Today Sports

Malki Kawa, the manager for former interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit, believes his fighter would gladly accept a rematch with Nick Diaz.

Condit secured the interim title when he defeated Diaz last year, but was unsuccessful vs. Georges St-Pierre in an unification match.

Diaz announced his “retirement” after he was defeated by GSP, and his management team has claimed only a rematch with St-Pierre or a super-fight vs. Anderson Silva would get him to return.

“I can tell you one I’d like to see again is (Condit) and Nick Diaz one more time,” said Kawa, during an appearance on The MMA Hour. “I just think that might be enough to get Nick to come out of retirement.”

Condit was also defeated earlier this year by Johny Hendricks, leaving himself amongst the UFC’s Top-5, but likely a win or two away from contention again.

While discussing Nick Diaz’ future in The UFC, Dominick Cruz informs Renan Barao that he will not be touching his belt when their inevitable reunification bout come to fruition. Oddly enough, and perhaps in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, Cruz says Barao is the better Bantamweight.

Martin Kampmann views Nick Diaz as a perfect stepping stone to getting right back into title contention.

After having his three-fight win streak snapped by Johny Hendricks to close out 2012, Kampmann sees Diaz as a worthy opponent for his return to action.

Diaz, of course, was defeated by Georges St-Pierre earlier this month. He made it known that retirement was in his plans, but that could always change.

“I’d be happy to fight him,” said Kampmann, during a recent interview with BJPenn.com. “He still got a ton of hype behind him. He’s ranked in the Top-10, so that would be a good win for me. Yeah, I’d love to beat his (expletive).”

Kampmann-Diaz would make for an interesting style fight, as “The Hitman” is strong in jiu-jitsu, but he also has eight knockouts to his credit. Maybe Diaz would finally get the “standing” fight that he desires.

Photo credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog

Nick Diaz ran through the gauntlet of emotions Saturday night at UFC 158, and was unable to secure the UFC welterweight title from Georges St-Pierre.

First, Diaz nearly was disqualified after throwing a punch at GSP after a round had ended.

By the time the fifth round was finished, the two seemed to have re-gained a level of respect for one another, sharing a hug with Diaz even extending GSP’s arm in the air in victory.

However, just moments later during the FUEL TV post-fight show, Diaz laid these comments out there during a five-plus minute interview:

I could have had a better training camp. I’m not making excuses. Nobody had faith in me to win this fight. I think I could have stopped the takedowns and I could have gotten the takedowns. I was flat. The first two rounds, I was moving slow. The third and fourth round I was moving pretty good. I was hoping for a knockout.

I want a rematch. Georges St-Pierre, if you’d give me a rematch, I‘d appreciate it because I could beat you.

I’m trying to retire. I’m trying to get out of this gig. But I’d like a rematch. I think I can stop the takedowns and beat him. I’m not hurt. He hits like a woman. He hits like a girl because he’s too scared to let go to get a real punch in.

If all of those different responses and remarks don’t lead you to believe Diaz has some sort of mental issues, you might want to get checked out yourself. This is definitely the mind of a troubled soul.

Despite Georges St. Pierre’s victory over Nick Diaz, he still wants to improve. When told about Nick Diaz’ request for an immediate rematch, Georges simply laughs.

After a rough spanking at the hands of Georges St. Pierre, Nick Diaz feels he needs some attention, so he resumes saying Georges hits like a girl (as his face looks like a old burger). Please just listen to this, and tell me how anyone takes this dude seriously. “I was just tired.”

Dana White talks about last night’s event. He covers all things from Diaz’ retirement to Hendricks and a title shot.

Well guys it’s finally here. UFC 158′s main card will kick off shortly, and we’ll finally see the feud between Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz come to a head. Georges looks to defend his long-held welterweight title against brash Nick Diaz in the main event.

Continue reading this post

Pat Miletich, who was the first fighter to wear the UFC welterweight title, offered up his thoughts on the UFC 158 main event between Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz for that title.

Continue reading this post