Did Nick Diaz waste his prime years?

[Cclick]

Older the berry the sweeter the juice

 

[Blond]

It deeply hurts me to post this but - One was a fucking title fight, the next was a headliner, and the rest were on the main card. As was his most recent with Matt Brown. Maybe not the court McGee fight. He was not relegated to just getting 'prelim bucks'
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Those mid-early main card fights might as well have been on prelims - he wasn't getting anywhere near ppv points or headliner pay at that point. I'm sure he wasn't straight up fighting for peanuts, but the overall point is that Diaz didn't miss out much on avoiding that career trajectory.

 

[HaulParris]

No because he doesn't like to fight, he likes the money but hates the sport. I don't blame him, getting punched in the face isn't fun.

His heart isn't in it and people think Nick is wasting his years in Nick's eyes he would be wasting his life fighting. He down right hates it.

All people are different and Nick is a bit of an odd dude.

Good point. I just wish that he was either all in or all out - either fight during your prime, or officially retire and don't tease comebacks every 6 months. Either way, I wish him the best.

 

[dogsdonutsdragons]

imo diaz was already hitting the end of his prime when he was last in the ufc. he got banned for 5 years that didn't help. seems a lot different now

 

[immyaxl]

I just went to his page and saw that he’s 37. He was 27 went beat Daley and Penn and was very hyped to make a splash in the ufc. I know he was banned for awhile and lost his last 3 but they were against Condit (boring loss could have gone either way) and 2 of the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.

I know he’s been successful in other endeavors but it just seems like there could have been so much more to his story.

Yes, that goes without saying. He must have blown all of his money to comeback at this point.

 

[immyaxl]

He would’ve never been anything special in the wrestler heavy welterweight division. Fun to watch but he never adapted his ground game or boasted anything that resembles TDD. He’s good on the mat but he was also easily controlled on his back. When he fought people with good cardio that he couldn’t drown, he looked average. I don’t know if it was his pride or what but he never figured out how to compete against wrestlers.

Neither Diaz brother was ever good against wrestlers. Nick was definitely the more talented of the two but he was only good with the right matchmaking which Strikeforce did with him.

 

[Blayt7hh]

Well, he was probably at the end of his prime when he stopped fighting anyways. I mean he was already like 15 years fighting as a pro fighter at the top when he stopped fighting, I doubt he was going to make a big splash even if has stayed and trained hard.

We probably could have gotten a few more entertaining fights out of him, but I think his time as a contender was already done.

 

[jban]

The man has not fought the last 6.5 years (January 2015 against Silva). He fought two years prior to that (2013 against GSP), and only once the year prior to that ( 2012 vs. Condit). He has wasted the prime years of his life, but he was happy partying and living his life. So, much respect to him.

 

[DaRivv20]

I don’t see him being champ in the UFC…ever. Maybe pre GSP, Woodley, and Usman, after that? No.

 

[Lucifer Morning Star]

He is rich and famous so no

 

[NDiaz209]

Nah. He is living the life and avoided a shit ton of CTE.

 

[weaselkenievil]

Is this even a question? Of course he has! Such a shame, I'm a fan and he's wasted his prime.

 

[weaselkenievil]

Nah. He is living the life and avoided a shit ton of CTE.

That is a fair point, as a fan though he's wasted his prime for us, not that he should give a shit about that.

 

[bigjoshstud]

I am a fan, but year I think so. Strikeforce/elite xc Nick was a nightmare at 170. His volume striking and pace wilted the best fighters.
Also, I still believe that Prime Nick was a better fighter than “Prime” Nate.

 

[DarthChen731]

Sporting-wise yes

 

[skylolow]

Yep, and he'll bitch to the end of time about poor pay and that's the will be the reason he finds himself in the position he'll be in 10 years from now. He'll never shoulder any blame in it all of it.

 

[theleerygoose]

He made the right call getting out when he did. The “get punched in the face until my opponent tires out” strategy doesn’t age well.

 

[Franklin U.]

No - Nick lost to he was supposed to lose to and won who he was supposed to win agsinst. The Condit fight shouldve been a draw..... which is a shame

 

[StoneColdSteveAustin]

Even before that he made
Bad career moves. He should have fought in Pride instead of state side earlier in his career.

He already tooled their champion and submitted him in legendary fashion. Nick would’ve cleaned out the Pride LW division.

 

[diffuzn]

I think Cesar took advantage of Nick during his prime years TBH.