The controversial suspension of Nick Diaz expired on August 1. It took him all of five minutes to make a splash in his return.
Diaz has never been the easiest guy to make fight. His career has been shaped around both his tendency to emotional outbursts, and to his seemingly unwavering dislike of being told what to do.
So, what are the UFC to do with their returning star?
Well, having been called out by new welterweight champion Tyron Woodley for a fight at UFC 202, most expected Nick to agree to the short-term notice and fight for the 170lb division title. Nope.
If not that, then you would have thought that obviously the logical returning point would have been to face off against the now title-less Robbie Lawler, in a rematch from their classic bout in 2004. Nope.
Instead, as per usual, Diaz has different ideas.
Appearing on both TMZ Sports and ESPN last night, Diaz went on a couple of his trademark rants, disregarding most of the more natural challengers awaiting his return to the cage and instead proclaiming himself as the man in charge.
“I want to fight the best guy,” Diaz said to TMZ Sports. “I always want to fight the best guy, but the thing is I’m on top. I’m the one on top, they’re dropping my name. I don’t need no fake ass piece of plastic, fuck that.
“Everyone wants to do a fight with me –champions at 170, champions at 185– I say we meet halfway, I don’t owe nobody nothing. I made PPV without a title. I don’t need that fake ass plastic to be fucking somebody.”
Those sentiments continued when Diaz took to ESPN on SportsCenter.
“We’re gonna have to sit down and have a look at what the fans want to see,” Diaz said. “Like I said [earlier], I’m on top right now. I’m on top of this game. There ain’t no giving me a shot, I’m giving somebody a shot. If someones getting a shot, it’s someone getting a shot against me. I’m the guy to beat.”
While Diaz hasn’t won a fight in the Octagon since 2011, it’s clear he understands that records in MMA aren’t everything. When asked if he would take a fight against Tyron Woodley for the belt, Diaz was non-committal.
“We’ll see how he does, he has some fights to do,” Diaz said. “He just gets the title now, and I’m over here just sitting back like I don’t need a fight. Theres no reason for me to come over and fight for fun. thats not what I do, I don’t like to hurt people.”
So, if not the champion, how about the former one? Robbie Lawler is a fan favourite and the interest in a rematch between the two is clearly high?
“No, he just lost,” Diaz said. “That’s not a fight that interests me. Nothing against him but thats…I don’t think thats where I’m headed right now.”
“I like Tyron Woodley and I like Robbie Lawler, so can we talk about a reason behind why I should be out to get somebody?”
So if not the two biggest names in the division, who?
“I don’t see a superstar out there,” Diaz said. “I don’t see Georges St-Pierre coming back, he’s too scared to come back and do a fight with me and the rest of these guys are not superstars. Who are they?”
Never change, Nick. Never change.
