Fighter Profile: Nick Diaz

Overall Record: 22-7

Hometown: Stockton, CA

Height: 6’0” Weight: 170

Born: 08-02-1983

Nick Diaz is a mixed martial artist who is known mostly for his excellent striking skills and willingness to stand and bang with his opponents. Diaz is also very skilled in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He was promoted to black belt by his coach Cesar Gracie in 2007. Diaz has been training under Cesar Gracie of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu since he was a teenager.

Diaz currently is a jiu-jitsu instructor at Pacific Coast Martial Arts in Stockton. When training, he works with training partner, younger brother and UFC lightweight Nathan Diaz and former Elite XC champion Jake Shields. Diaz is quick to give credit to his training partners, coach and beloved hometown.

Stockton also was the scene of Diaz’ last fight, when Elite XC held its Unfinished Business card there. While Scott Smith and Robbie Lawler was the main event, Diaz was a co-main event along with Thomas “Wildman” Denny. Denny was able to hang tough for one round against Diaz but was being dismantled on the score cards in the process. After wobbling and dropping “Wildman” on more than one occasions in the first round, Diaz finally stopped the veteran early in the second round via TKO.

> Pro Fighting Fans allows fans to browse or buy MMA apparel & clothing as well as TapouT hats & merchandise.

Diaz is not new to the sport of MMA. He is a veteran of over 25 fights and 8 different organizations. Some of the top organizations that have included Diaz on their fight cards include: UFC (6-4 record), Elite XC (3-1), Dream (1 win) and Pride FC (1 No Contest). He will now add another promotion to his list as he has been signed to fight for Strikeforce.

Some of Diaz’ most memorable fights include a UFC 47 match up against Robbie Lawler. He demonstrated his unique personality in that fight when he taunted and baited Lawler into mistakes and finally knocked him out in the second round. Another fight that will be remembered by MMA faithful is his only Pride FC fight (Pride 33) in February of 2007. He embarrassed ground specialist Takanori Gomi and submitted him in front of the United States crowd. The win was later overturned when it was discovered that marijuana was found in his post fight drug test.

Diaz also has a couple of forgettable losses on his record. In a November ’07 fight with KJ Noons, Diaz suffered a loss due to a cut opened up near his eye. In the post fight celebration Diaz took exception and a scene erupted where officials had to intervene. He also suffered a 3 fight losing streak in the UFC from November ’05 – April of ’06. He lost to Diego Sanchez, Joe Riggs and Sean Sherk in succession during that span. He did come back and win two fights after that but it was the streak that cost him his roster spot with the UFC.

Diaz has all around excellent offensive skills, which is evident from his 10 TKO, 5 submission and 3 decision wins in his career but he also has excellent defensive skills. Diaz has only been stopped 2 times in his career and had never been submitted. That is a milestone for anyone that has faced the talent that Diaz has seen throughout his career.

Diaz has been idle for over 7 months now but that will come to an end in April when he will make his Strikeforce debut. He is set to take on MMA legend and Strikeforce veteran Frank Shamrock. The fight will take place April 11, 2009 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California with Diaz vs Shamrock featured as the main Strikeforce event.

Recent Nick Diaz MMA News:

• Defeated Marius Zaromskis by TKO at Strikeforce: Miami on January 30, 2010 to win the Strikeforce Welterweight championship belt - Strikeforce Miami results

• Defeated Hayato Sakurai via Submission at DREAM 14 on May 29, 2010 - DREAM 14 results

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer
Published March 2009, Updated January 2010