Nick Diaz claims he doesn’t think he should fight Robbie Lawler, but rather should challenge Kamaru Usman to the title. (1:50).
LAS VEGAS -- Nick Diaz has never been one to be shy, in cage or with the media.
Three days before returning to the Octagon, Diaz spoke out about his "resentment" towards mixed martial arts. He also wondered why he was competing against Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 on Saturday. Diaz maintained his long-held dislike for fighting.
Diaz stated that "all the people around me, all the money and sponsors, they won’t let me get away fighting," in a sit down interview with ESPN's Brett Okamoto. There are many things I could do but it's not going to work out. It's better to just let it go. I'm not going to regret it. I don't want anyone to say, "Why didn't I just do it?" I don't feel great. It's great to fight. I don't feel great for everything else. This is how I feel about myself if I don’t do it."
Diaz, 38 years old, stated that he had planned to open a gym, teach students and travel around the country giving seminars. He said that things didn't go according to plan with his business partners and that the plans were "fake." This is what brought him back to fighting.
Diaz stated, "It's just how I do it." "I tried to escape it, but it's just kinda inevitable.
Diaz has never been shy about expressing his mixed feelings towards MMA. He said that he is one of the most loved fighters in UFC and that he knows they are excited to see him compete again. Diaz has been saying for over a decade that he does not like fighting and that his time away hasn't changed his mind. Since his fight against Anderson Silva at UFC 183, January 2015, Diaz hasn't competed.
Diaz stated that Saturday's fight against Lawler was his goal. Do I feel confident? I never do. I have never done that. I feel like I'm going out there to be trashed. Every fight I have ever had. "How do you feel about Robbie Lawler?" I feel like I'm going get the s--- out of me. Even if I win, I feel even worse.
Diaz actually said that he shouldn’t be fighting Lawler at all. Diaz beat Lawler in 2004 and Stockton, California native Diaz believes that he should be challenging Kamaru Uman for the UFC welterweight title. Diaz stated that he believes he is the best fighter in the universe, despite all doubts. Diaz doesn't think Lawler will beat him, but that doesn't mean he believes he will lose.
Diaz stated that "I believe I'll beat Usman." "I think I'll have a better chance against Usman than I do Lawler because I beat Lawler." It doesn't make any sense to me to fight Robbie Lawler once again. I don't understand why I do this. I don't know why I do this. This shouldn't happen. This is an incompetent act of stupidity. I don't understand why I do this. This is the first time this has happened to me. I should be fighting Kamaru Uman -- that's all.
Diaz stated that one of his recent issues was going to see his brother Nate fight Leon Edwards at UFC 263. Edwards won the bout unanimously, but Nate nearly knocked him out in the end. Nick Diaz, two years older than Nate said that he didn’t like watching his brother take damage and then see him being stitched in the back.
Diaz spoke out about Edwards' fight with his brother. "Being away for five year and coming back and that, that was something that was new." It really knocked me off my block. It was hard to see me take more punches while watching than I did sparring or fighting in any other fights. You know, he's my baby brother. It's difficult to watch him fight."
Diaz (26-29, 2 NC) had lost three fights prior to his six-year absence. In 2011, his last victory was against BJ Penn. Even so, Diaz remains a cult favorite among MMA fans. He has won 11 consecutive bouts at one time, and was the Strikeforce welterweight champion. Diaz is well-known for his aggressive, forward-thinking style.
Diaz is clearly unsure about whether he will compete again, but he said Lawler "doesn’t deserve to be whopped and that I know I’m going to beat the s--- outt of him." Diaz stated that he thinks he is more dangerous than he was six-years ago when he was a competitor. However, that doesn't mean he has a different relationship with MMA.
Diaz stated that he has a lot of resentment towards the sport for taking so many from him and not giving back anything. This is fantastic. They are promoting this fight. "I didn't think I would be the main event, or anything like that."
Diaz stated that he is just being honest. Diaz said that every fighter thinks the same things during fight week and has similar doubts. They don't talk about it as much as he does. Diaz stated that other fighters are "full o s ---"" and that if they don't pretend to be happy during fight week, they "must not be crazy."
Diaz stated that she loves to help people and enjoys being part of the sport. But I don't love the things it has done to me. I haven't loved what it has done to me in the past seven months or the last two years. It's possible to bring some of that back, so I think it's possible. I'm going to do it.
"I feel that way every fight. In the lead up to a fight, I am a very dark and dim person. These people are just too happy to get out there, I hate them."
