Yeah, he's called him 'the boy' In Dublin parlance which could be perceived as a put down. And yeah, Diaz has being in the UFC longer and had tougher fights - which Conor has acknowledged. But what does that mean? I watched that Bad Blood programme and the snippets of Diaz talking about 'I've being saying what this guy has being saying for years' and the 'You've taken everything I ever worked for' line.
At first I thought it was Diaz just trying to get the fight, put his name in the hat - even though his name was in the hat for 189. But I actually think he's serious on some level. As Diaz alluded to in the media call he was bitching about his contract and for the last 3 years he seemed semi retired. And then on the programme he talks about how he was plotting to get a big money fight, but used Conor as a short cut. I don't understand the first part of that - who was he setting up to go and get a big money fight against? I think he wants to portray himself as not becoming more successful for being the first fighter in the UFC to beat Conor.
It's the same as sr with GSP - he knew that fight would make him money and everyone was interested in watching it. As far as them complaining - and other fighters - about not getting a push, you can maybe in theory let them headline a PPV, but if it does poorly, they're not going to use you again. Diaz has headlined a couple of FOX cards in the past, and being on PPVs, but he needs someone, just like Aldo did to make that fight.
Well, in terms of fighting in the UFC, it's plain and simple that Diaz has more experience. Just because you haven't fought in the UFC doesn't mean you haven't being involved in the game. Conor has been fighting for a little over 10 years or so. Again, like GSP, he had the massive advantage of having a big fan base when he came on the scene - something which the American fighters can't do. The top PPV American headliner is a pro Wrestler who probably brought over WWE fans.
In terms of 'hype' he flattened out Aldo in 13 seconds. Before that, it was Holloway was 21, Conor couldn't even finish him. Despite the fact Holloway had 3 fights in the UFC before that. The other fighters were cans. Poirier's head was messed up so he couldn't fight properly/weight cut was an issue for him. Mendes gassed too quick - despite it being well known Conor's knee was buggered during his training camp. After the Aldo fight, the new angle was dos Anjos will destroy him, he dresses like a metrosexual, he cuts 50lbs to get down to FW, etc, anything to deflect away from the Aldo win.
Yeah he came in and talked a big game. Being Irish probably had its benefits for him both here and in the States, but at the end of it all, it's the results that matter. Diaz seems a little bitter over that. What does sitting around mopping about it going to do for him? He's fought the majority of his fights at LW which is hardest division, imo, but he couldn't string a decent run of wins, wasn't active and his coach talked about how he was injured for a lot of fights that he lost. What fighters aren't banged up?
Elbows up and all :S
