http://graciefighter.com/?page=news&...0fce9d3a5e8967

Nate Diaz
"I fought like garbage and I'm sorry to my fans for my performance. I was hesitant about throwing hard punches because I kept thinking he was going to go for a takedown. It looked like I was knocked down in the second but actually he stepped on my foot and when I tried to back out I slipped. I really don't think I'm going to stay at 155lbs. I don't make enough money to have to drop this much weight so I'd like to fight at 170 and only go to 55's every once in awhile. You know if you look at his face compared to mine right now you'd think there was no way he beat me in a fight but I've never been too popular with the judges."

Thoughts?


I think he will find himself in the same position as he was at LW. Never near contention because he won't beat the higher level wrestlers with decent striking. I think he could have fun fights with Condit, Hazelett, and Kampmann though.

[Superman55]

Who knows. Maybe he also has Nick Diaz syndrome, where he can fight great at higher weights, yet blows at lower ones. I don't even think Nate has fought higher than 155. (I'm sure he has, but not in the UFC that I can remember)

[Thaispider]

maybe he will benefit from this because despite being slender in frame at 170 i beleive he has the frame to fill out and hold his own in the strength department but i think it will still be his lack of TDD and willingness to go to his back that will keep him from being a contender but there will be some very good match ups for him at 170.

[randyspankstito]

Unless he puts some serious mass on he is going to be in a ton of hurt at 170. And you know what? If he puts some serious mass on, he's going to be back to cutting a bunch of weight.

Face it Nate, you belong in King of the Cage.

[vikingpride]

Yeah i know he was talking about this awhile back when he was having troubles cutting to 155. I think it's a good move, at the very least i think he stays in the same position as he is currently and best case he's able to fill out his frame a bit more and become a better wrestler ( and maybe pack a bit more of a punch). Plus LW is just packed with a bunch of compact wrestlers with crazy leverage. WW obviously has a bunch of wrestlers, but not as much as LW. Though obviously the top of the heap still has the best wrestler in MMA.

TBH Nate's much larger in person and i think 170 will help him have a longer career. And Hackett is right he has fun fights vs Mclovin, Kampmann, and Condit. As well as a bunch of other guys at WW.

[Wise]

I like it just because I think hes pretty much running out of intriguing match ups at LW.

[Aaron]

dunno what he's talking about w/ regards to the judging....the fact that guida/nate was even a split is an abomination and he shouldn't have won last night either.

[MilesHackett]

"I was hesitant about throwing hard punches"

This part makes me laugh because he has no power. He's an accumulative striker like his brother, he never had the power to worry Maynard, even if he did land flush. Power cannot be learned, either you have it or you don't.

[Jack]

Originally Posted by Aaron

dunno what he's talking about w/ regards to the judging....the fact that guida/nate was even a split is an abomination and he shouldn't have won last night either.

I remember Guida's gameplan in that fight being essentially holding Nate against the fence or laying in his guard, plus I think Diaz won a round legitimately, so considering Guida's total lack of offense I'd hardly call one judge giving him another round an abomination.

[vikingpride]

In fairness. Maynard did look the worse for wear (which is funny as the Diaz boys have been known to not take damage well). Now that doesn't determine the winner, but none the less Gray did look messed up.

With the way the judging is set up (round by round) Nate lost, but it was obvious it was going in nates favor before it ended. And well Nate doesn't have Big power he does usually turn it up a bit more to finish his fights in regard to power (check his flurries vs Guida and Stevenson). Still basically accumulative strikes, but they usually have a bit more life to them then they did last night.

And Aaron that Guida match wasn't a "fight". Well Nate fought, Guida hugged for 95% of it (the slam and brief GNP in the first was the only offense Clay had.) lol