Strikeforce Champ Nick Diaz Considering Leaving MMA for Boxing (updated)
Update: Former IBF champion Jeff Lacy is reportedly now the front-runner for Nick Diaz’s boxing debut, with Sergio Martinez and Ricardo Mayorga also in the mix, Cesar Gracie has since told Sherdog.
Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz says he’s considering leaving mixed martial arts for a career in boxing following his latest title defense over Paul Daley less than one week ago.
“[Strikeforce] doesn’t have anybody else for me to fight right now, I’m better than all these guys they have,” Diaz told HDNet’s Inside MMA. “The guys they have ranked above me, I’m sure they don’t want to fight me. I don’t see much of a future in this sport for me. I honestly don’t, especially if there’s not a whole [lot] of money going on.”
Diaz’s manager, Cesar Gracie, said Diaz has already signed an agreement to face boxer Fernando Vargas this fall that is simply awaiting Vargas’ signature.
Gracie added that Diaz’ next fight will “definitely” be in boxing unless he’s offered a shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, who rematches Yushi Okami at August’s “UFC: Rio” before a possible superfight with UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre.
Vargas would be fighting the for the first time since his 2007 loss to Ricardo Mayorga that pushed his losing streak to three-straight.
For the latest Strikeforce news and Strikeforce rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
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Sorry Nick.. you wont get silva… maybe dana will bring u to ufc again.. but u will get your arse beat…
he may have trouble with strong wrestlers in UFC but is better than his brother Nate. he wont get his ass beat he has never been finished, are you sure your watching the same sport?
Dude why hate?Both of the diaz brothers are B.Asses.10 fight win 3 tittle defences.That Gracie camp is a good camp watch now a gracie fighter is going to get a boxing championship belt.give credit when credit is earn,Nick Diaz is a good fighter
I kind of agree while he is definitely a top MMA fighter. He won’t hang with the likes of gsp, fitch
And
Other top wrestlers, he
Wants a standup guy and I think Anderson is quiet intriguing since Diaz thinks he has the best hands
In MMA let him prove it against the best standup
Guy in MMA. ‘ just because you think you can punch doesn’t mean you can step in the ring with Ali’
Lay off the cocky attitude and a few other things and try the ufc again.. Since he thinks he is the best then i think there is plenty of match ups that can prove it:
A rematch with Diego Sanchez (in which diego won the first meeting)
Josh Koscheck, i believe i read he talked a bunch of trash about him so that would be a good fight.
Fitch would be another one but i am not a GSP fan but i think he would smash diaz..
This kid gets paid alot and he still thinks he is underpaid get real. So, go to boxing and be forgotten.
no kidding. off to boxing with you if you think that no one has anything for ya. i think that nick diaz does need to test the 170 waters in the ufc again, get thumped by a few of the top contenders there then off to boxing with ya.
Hmmmm…Well Nick has always said he fights for the money and if thats the way he feels then i can’t fault the man for it. I wonder if he’ll change his mind if Sheilds loses to GSP, Diaz would want to fight GSP instead of Silva. However, a fight between Diaz and Anderson would be awesome!! I don’t know to much about Vargas, but it sounds like him and Diaz have very strong words about each other and need to solve it in the ring, as opposed to the cage.
April fools day is already passed Nick, wake up bro.
Those thoughts and comments aren’t that difficult to believe when you remember that Diaz has a marijuana perscription. Cesar must be catchin a contact.
I dont think its the lack of compitition in SF that is making Diaz want to move to boxing… Im betting that if he gets an invite to the UFC he wont take it.. Because its not the competition that is pushing this desicion.. its the $$$$$.. High level boxers get paid much better then top MMA fighters.. To diaz… thats all that matters..
To Dana White,
Give Diaz a fight with Anderson silva. Whats the worst that can happen??
Silva wins, Diaz gets bounced back to SF and you get a top draw superfight… Silva Loses and we have a new era for the MW division… Actually, it seems win win for me.
Exactly.
Diaz complaints about the amount of $$$ top fighters are payed in MMA is in direct correlation with the IMMENSE difference top professional boxers have been payed for decades. It’s not that he feels he isn’t payed “enough” from Strikeforce, he’s making a point that he feels MMA fighters should be paid more for what they do in the big show (and it’s a perfectly valid argument).
In terms of him challenging either Sliva or GSP for their titles, that’s another perfectly valid argument, especially since Zuffa bought out Strikeforce. If fans think Overeem should get a shot at Valasquez (if he wins the HW tourney), they’d be complete hypocrites not to think Diaz deserves his shot too.
Also, Diaz has been stating in interviews for years that he’s interested in professional boxing, so this is nothing new.
Regardless of peoples opinion of Nick Diaz, (and everyone seems to have one), he’s the most exciting WW in the world today, fact. Inside the cage he does his job VERY well, he always entertains the paying fans, he always brings it, and he finishes fights. I’d say he’s earned that respect, regardless of his behavior/comments outside the cage.
But sure, the Diaz brother bashing will continue none the less. lol. Carry on.
I completly agree with everything you just said. And I to think that MMA fighters should the same amount, or more the boxers. MMA requiers so much more from a athlete than boxing. It is way more exciting to watch, and it’s way bigger than boxing.
I understand that boxing has been around for something like 100 years, but MMA has become equally mainstream, if not more than boxing ever was.
I do think one of the reasons MMA fighters don’t get as much money, is because there are so many stars.
Boxing would only have maybe up to three big stars at one time. The rest of the fighters were never promoted and just thrown on the undercards.
Besides, if Diaz could cross over to boxing and do well, it would be great for our sport. It would prove that MMA fighters are true athletes. I personally would love to see Diaz go to boxing, do well, and maybe even win a title someday.
Of course returning to MMA in between boxing matches.
It would be nice if Dana gave him what he wanted though. :)
Whatever happens, it’s going to benefit the sport of MMA.
Good luck to Diaz in his next fight. Either boxing or MMA.
agreed however wont happen, I dont understand though he wouldnt fight Miller at 185 complaining of weight, I guess he just looking for a payday. Its stupid should be passion, he is a great fighter, im sure he aint starving
Diaz is nuts if he thinks for a minute that Dana White will give him what he wants..
1- Dana does not react well to ultimatums
2- Diaz does not deserve Silva until he faces some other top 10 WWs or MWs in the UFC
3- He is already on the UFC’s poo-list
Good luck in boxing homie
His striking is good for mma, but not good enough to beat an Olympic boxing hopeful. Anderson Silva! Diaz needs to try beating a top UFC WW, or MW since he wants a title shot in a weight class he hasn’t been fighting in(not to mention an organization). I wonder if this is all a marketing strategy on his part to get a big fight/title unification. Well at least his bull**** is entertaining.
My only question is why is he calling out A.Silva at 185 but wouldn’t agree to fight Jason Miller at 185?!?!?!
Monsey.. A fight with miller wont pay well.. A fight with Silva will give him leverage to ask for 200k plus…
give him James Toney..
I can think of a few fights that would be nice for him in Strikeforce if he would be willing to move up in weight… Dana has stated (as recently as yesterday) that he will NOT be bringing over StrikeForce talent that are still under contract with StrikeForce, when the contract is up then Dana will have the right to negotiate with said fighter..
When Diaz says that he wants to get ‘paid’ he is basically saying that MMA fighters don’t make Boxers pay day.. He wants to be paid like a boxer, in the millions.. Honestly what is Nicks backup plan? In his mind he realizes this and wants to get paid so he can be ‘set’ for life, with that logic not many people could logically blame him, nevertheless 175g’s is a pretty damnn nice pay day..
Asking for a bout with Anderson Silva is laughable at the best, he won’t fight The Greatness (no matter what happens on the 30th) because he would get wrestled to a decision and he knows it, I also believe that is why he is unwilling to fight Tyron Woodley…
Nick is a top flight WW fighter there is no denying that, he needs to realize that he is the one that just signed his OWN extension for negotiated money, I doubt that he was held at gun point and made to sign the damnn thing, also ask Randy Couture how walking away from ZUFFA worked out for him, remember he was never going to fight for ZUFFA ever again, alas he has a fight in 16 days in the UFC.
Vargas hasn’t been a contender in boxing for a number of years, and his last fight was back in 2007 if I recall correctly. That being said, Vargas has had great fights against the likes of Sugar Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya and others. Diaz might come out on top against a retired boxer, and it may sell well with Friday Night Fights or something like that to pit Boxing v. MMA in the boxing ring (much like the UFC did with James Toney,) but honestly I think Diaz will fight maybe twice for boxing.
If he thinks the money in MMA is bad at $175k a fight then he is in for a seriously rude awakening. He will need several low key fights and to win them in great fashion before he is even a name in boxing, even then he will need a marketing machine behind him to get top purse fights. He may even be looking at a paycut in this Vargas fight
I know I’d sure as hel l watch Nick Diaz vs Fernando Vargas have a boxing match. Diaz and Vargas I beleive have had this fight possibility milling around for quite some time… I think it’d be a great fight with alot of interest. Big pay day for Nick and Fernando as well, depending on promoter, I ‘d bet Nick would get paid more for that fight then any of his previous mma fights.
Fight may or not ever happen, but I know I’d watch if it did. Fernando does know how to promote with the best of them. Look at the work he did with De La Hoya leading into their fight, one of the most hyped fights in recent history.
Vargas?? Really?? What is this guy on? Even in retirement, Vargas (a former champion) last competed in 07 in a better weight class than Diaz did two years prior that – Diaz is a bjj black belt, and for all intents and purposes, one could consider Vargas at a higher level in his sport. Vargas would knock this guy back to Danas lap if he decided to even dance with the guy – I doubt Vargas would sign up to fight this chump, and I’m sure he made DW chuckle with his demands.
Btw – vargas’ losses have been against some of the hardest hitting mf’ers.
Nick, to go boxing and make MILLIONS!
Nick won’t make millions in boxing. Very few BOXERS make that kind of money.
Nick Diaz quitting MMA?
I should be so lucky.
If this is some sort of stunt to try and swerve the Strikeforce matchmaking process, or some nonsensical attempt to get into the UFC, then its a fail because the LAST thing anyone does is try to swerve Dana White & Co.
If Diaz has legitimately convinced himself that there is more money for him to make in boxing, then this is a fail because he couldn’t be more wrong.
A couple guys in boxing make millions, while the rest of the guys make sh!t.
Competitively and financially Diaz is better off longterm in MMA, but personally I’d be delighted to see Diaz boxing in a ring as opposed to his slap-boxing in the cage.
Finally, Nick Diaz shouldn’t let the cage door hit him in his narrow a$$ on the way out of the sport…
So wait, let me see if I got this right… he’s afraid to fight Mayhem at 185 and makes all these excuses and says that he’s a 170er, but now he wants and automatic shot against Anderson “I rape everybody” Silva?
I think he’s smoked too much weed or Daley hit him a lot harder than we all thought. This kid and his holier than thou attitude is a joke.
I hope he does leave so I dont have to hear about him or his antics anymore.
Nick Diaz believes that he can make more money boxing, at least in the short term..This guy needs to step back and look at the big picture
Maybe I am in the minority here but Nick Diaz is one of the most exciting fighters in all of MMA and I would like to see him continue to fight in MMA promotions
I can see why Nick Diaz would throw out a name like Anderson Silva
1. Diaz believes that his boy Shields will beat GSP
2. Diaz wants a big payday title fight
Diaz has said that he does not have a problem going up to 185 as long as it is a big time fight which Mayhem is not
The UFC can solve this problem by offering Nick Diaz a title fight vs GSP immediately after GSP defeats Shields
Yep, Pretty much.
I mean seriously, let’s look at the big picture here people, what does Diaz gain out of fighting a complete clown like Jason Miller at 185, (which would be basically giving into Mayhem’s BS)? Absolutely Nothing. Fighting a legend like Anderson Silva is a HUGE fight and a title shot against the P4P king…geese, I wonder which fight makes sense in going after?
If Shields is not successful in adding GSP’s belt to his already impressive collection, (a fight which most GSP fans are looking past, which is absolutely ridiculous), then Nick will probably call George out & ask for that fight as a main option as well (possibly a title unification bout).
Again, there’s nothing wrong with top fighters calling for title shots, everyone does it.
Personally, at WW I’d like to see Nick fight either Fitch, BJ, or the winner of Condit / Kim first. If he beats them down, then there would be little to chirp about from the haters.
Cheers.
Personally I think that Nick needs to calm down with this boxing stuff. Even if he chooses to fight in boxing, I think he gets killed. Especially against the kind of competition he’s talking about. Sergio Martinez,Mayorga, and Jeff Lacy are all top guys and would probably beat him up, especially since he hasn’t boxed professionally before and is more jui-jitsu oriented while all these guys are veterans. I think he should focus more on training and if he wants more $$$ than he should fight more. Also why is he askin for superfights when in the UFC would need to climb the ladder and fight guys like BJ, Fitch, Condit, Anthony Johnson, and Koshchek. All of whom I think would be very tough fights that IMO he would lose in.
@ Nolan:
- “especially since he hasn’t boxed professionally before”
Actually, Diaz has boxed professionally before and won.
@dan82523
Couple things:
- First, if you buy into the Zuffa public line, this isn’t the UFC’s problem to resolve, its Strikeforce’s.
Everytime Diaz calls out a UFC fighter, he’s peripherally dissing everyone in Sf, including Scott Coker, the man nominally still running the org in which Diaz is a titleholder.
- Second, if like myself you don’t buy into the Zuffa public line about “business as usual”, then we have to ask ourselves:
“what exactly has Nick Diaz done do deserve a title shot against Anderson Silva?!”
Some are inclined to believe that Diaz’s small show cred exchanges on a 1 for 1 basis within the UFC, but I’m not so inclined.
And I’m pretty sure neither is Dana White.
The greater MMA community recognizes Anderson Silva as either the number one or two p4p best fighter in the sport.
What “logic” does Nick Diaz and his string-puller Cesar Gracie use to justify his fighting A Silva?
- Third, and finally, assuming Gracie and Diaz are in fact publicly end-running Scott Coker and appealing directly to Dana White, or more accurately trying to “leverage” DW into giving them what they want with this nonsensical “threat” to go off and box professionally, what are they hoping to gain?
Has DW EVER responded well to managerial force and/or fighter threats?
Has the UFC ever “caved” to a single fighter’s nonsensical demands?
Popular and accomplished fighters like Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture were shown the door rather than be given their way, so why would an exception be made for a fighter who hasn’t accomplished a FRACTION of what either Ortiz and/or Couture have IN THE UFC?
If you’re a Diaz supporter, thats cool. Lots of people are.
Subjectively sharing his POV on this makes sense.
OBJECTIVELY the Diaz/Gracie position is nonsensical, in both the literal and figurative senses of the word.
Diaz needs MMA WAY more than MMA needs Diaz.
This is even more abundantly clear when viewed with Zuffa-vision.
Bottom line is Diaz brings nothing to the table that Zuffa doesn’t already have, so if Diaz wants to box, thats cool.
Fronting like its any more than that is just laughable…
@ jcohl:
“Bottom line is Diaz brings nothing to the table that Zuffa doesn’t already have”
Interesting assumption here.
First off, let’s state the facts within both the WW and MW divisions in the UFC currently:
#1. The Champs (P4P kings) will have basically cleared out their respective divisions if they both win their next fights. So, other then Superfight in Silva’s court, what does Zuffa have left for either of them other than rematches with fighters they’ve already beaten?
#2. Dana White has always stated he loves / wants fighters who “come to fight & want to finish fights”, which is exactly what Diaz has delivered every time he’s stepped in the cage over the past 5 years. Which is why he’d be prime to give an exciting fight for the paying fans instead of another 5 rounds snoozer both Silva & GSP have been criticized for delivering. Truth is, he’s the type of fighter Zuffa can never get enough of (regardless of his antics outside of the cage).
#3. Diaz has legions of fans (believe it or not) who will follow him anywhere, which makes him a draw in North America.
#4. It gives new blood to either division, and will get a ton of press. What better than a brash, confident Champion from the 2nd best organization (now owned by Zuffa) to come storming into either UFC division with both middle fingers blazing?
You asked:
“What exactly has Nick Diaz done do deserve a title shot against Anderson Silva?!”
My answer is: a HECK OF A LOT MORE then Patrick Cote, Thales Leites, Travis Lutter, (and even Damien Maia), had done to deserve their shot. Other than a doctor stoppage, (in a fight he most likely would have found a way to win), he’s been unbeaten in the past 5 1/2 years and finished all but one of his opponents, winning a title & successfully defending it numerous times along the way. I know that doesn’t impress you because it was outside of the beloved UFC, but it’s highly impressive none-the-less, regardless of how you try to downplay it.
I mean, while we’re at it, why don’t we ask “what did Anderson Sliva do to deserve his title shot against Rich Franklin”? (He had been 4-2 in his previous six fights).
Anyhow, hopefully you get the point.
Cheers.
@jcohl – you did not like my comment (big shocker)
The basic points of my previous comment are that:
1. Nick Diaz needs to look at the big picture
2. Nick Diaz is an exciting MMA fighter
3. I understand why Diaz mentioned Anderson’s name & not GSP’s
4. Mayhem Miller is not a high profile fight
5. This problem can be fixed by offering Diaz the GSP fight next
Now whether or not a high profile UFC fight for Nick Diaz is completely justified or if Dana will “cave to Diaz” is a whole different debate but something I will point out is..
Just prior to the Diaz/Daley SF event Dana White did an interview w/ Helwani in which Dana stated that he could see “Nick Diaz being a star in the UFC” and that Nick just needs to “tone it down a little bit”
@learntoread
Diaz has done a lot less than Frankie Edgar, GSP, Jon jones and Cain Velasquez(all fighters who also do not fight at MW) to deserve a shot at Anderson silva. Even if we put aside the discrepancy in the depth of talent in SF, Diaz is calling for a fight outside his weight class.
I agree with your point that he is entertaining and always looks to finish fights but he is beating guys who couldn’t hang in the UFC. Let’s face it Paul Daley’s takedown defense is comparable to James toney. IMO if he wants a fight for the MW title In the UFC he needs to fight at MW in the UFC against a top tier guy like Damian Maia, chael sonnen, etc…
I am not a big diaz fan but I would like to see him fight in the UFC. I think a great fight would be Diaz vs Vitor in brazil. Probably be a big pay day and a KO of the night(dont think nick would be collectin the bonus though)
@Dan82523 – “The UFC can solve this problem by offering Nick Diaz a title fight vs GSP immediately after GSP defeats Shields”
No they can’t. Nick Diaz is not a UFC fighter, and he is contractually bound to Strikeforce, a business venture they are committed to until 2014 at the earliest.
@dbiz
I agree with you in principle, but I’m not completely sold on how “committed” Zuffa is to the Strikeforce brand.
Historically, Zuffa has put their all behind 1 brand regardless of what was said previously, or what contracts were in place.
I keep hearing about contracts and such, almost as if they were a solid obstacle, but Zuffa has a way of “jiu-jitsu’ing” situations to their advantage.
I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Strikeforce on Showtime being replaced by the UFC on Showtime before 2014, especially if Sf fighters become UFC fighters as soon as contractually possible.
Also, almost anything can be worked out in a lawyers office…
Oh yeah business as usual..I forgot..my bad
Just an FYI here, technically, most of the fighters under contract with Strikeforce have been asked to sign new contracts with Zuffa (which keep them with Strikeforce, just officially with Zuffa). Diaz has not signed the new contract because he will only face Silva to sign with Zuffa. The UFC isn’t going to offer that fight to a guy who struggled with smaller welterweights who cut down to lightweight once the UFC added the division back.
too far over your head pal, im not a big fan of either diaz, but respect is there… on the other hand anderson silva would prolly beat your ass and your brothers ass at the same time, dream smaller !!
Many people are letting their emotions cloud their judgement. I have no love lost for the guy but he has skills.
How many times do you let the same people fight Silva? Seems highly promotable to have Silva v. Diaz on Showtime (or Spike, or PPV). If I were Showtime, I would pursue it.
Whatever happens, the UFC seems pretty business savvy. I have to think they have this all planned out and they purchased Strikeforce for a reason aside from horizontal expansion.
Well, this is what happens when your a big fish in a small pond. And instead of playing ball with Dana to try and swim with the sharks, instead he wants to try his hand at boxing.
Well, when Mayorga or Morales hands him his a$$, he’ll come crawling back.
But if he decides to stay in MMA, Kos, Fitch, Penn, Rumble will do the same.
Sorry, I respect him even though I hate him, but what he does in the cage isn’t “boxing” to me.
ahahahahahah, your brutal man. Diaz is a great fighter, he can definately hang with the fighters you mentioned. A.) has never been stopped, B.) has already beaten top fighters. he can definitely hang with the best.
James Toney didn’t exactly “deserve” a shot at couture but they made it happen. This diaz to boxing seems like a win win. He can take a bout then fight gsp if he wins or silva sometime in december. The guy wants to get paid, he’s done a lot. This excites me. Kirland, mayorga, vargas seem perfect
As far as the “business as usual” line..
- Coker says cross over fights are coming soon
- Dana White shows up at a SF event and promotes it like a UFC event (interviews, twitter hype etc.)
- Melendez now being mentioned as a #1 LW screams out that he wants to fight UFC guys
We’ll see
As a Diaz fan, I think iIf Diaz wants more money, he needs (and should) go to the UFC and fight GSP. Unlike Shields (which the marketing machine is trying their damnest to make Shields look like the great threat to GSP’s belt), Diaz would be a bigger threat. Not only that, but the top UFC fighters get more sponsorship deals ($$$) and the very top get a cut of the PPV, which is where the really big money is.
I can’t help but wonder if this talk of boxing is simply to position himself to negotiate a better deal with the UFC. It’s delusional to think his boxing skills, which while sloppy are still good by MMA standards, are good enough to do that full time. He takes way too many chances, gets hit far too many times. He would get KTFO by trying to stand and trade with a guy who does nothing but box all the time.
diaz has more ways to win against gsp than sheilds (that fight is 24 hours away).
while wrestling is diaz’s biggest threat i’m not so sure he’s the same guy who lost to wrestlers in the past, especial;y after training with shields. gsp might find taking diaz to the mat a dangerous task.