What if Nate Diaz a completely different fighter since 12/13/14 (RDA fight)?

[migeru29]

I know that many of you noted the fact that he has improved but what if it was not just average improvement; what if he is going thru a type of Robbie Lawler transformation. It is just a theory but you never know… if this is indeed true then is not that “Johnson or Conor” were not “that good” but there were fighting the future lightweight champion. Just a random though that I wanted to share, maybe useless though but though from a fan after all... to bad he is fighting Conor again to really understand what is going on with Nate but eventually he needs to fight a TOP 3 and let’s see what happen. And sorry for my English is my third language.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

He went into the RDA fight in terrible shape with an injury. A rematch might be a lot more competitive.

That being said, RDA fought a great fight against him. Destroyed his lead leg, and beat him up.

 

[wildchild88]

Nate is a great fighter, but,

His game is the same, and he was getting bloodied in the first round against Conor,

Same fighter, different match ups.

Diaz's are masters of boxing and bjj, but refuse to evolve, always staying a step behind the elite champs..

 

[SwagJuice]

RDA mauls him again.

 

[DieKnowMite]

Diaz's are masters of boxing and bjj, but refuse to evolve, always staying a step behind the elite champs..

I don't understand this type of sentiment that is often directed towards Nick and Nate. People say they refuse to "evolve". Last time I checked, both of them have fought for titles in the last few years. A lot of people thought Nick beat Carlos Condit... who just recently fought Robbie Lawler (who Nick has KO'd) to a razor close decision. Not to mention Nick also fought GSP for a title... and just for the hell of it fought Anderson Silva in what was a competitive fight. Nate Diaz has also only been in high profile fights in recent years and has fought for a title. Both of the brothers have won titles before. What is there to evolve? There are a shit ton of fighters who people think are great all around fighters who haven't had the success of the Diaz brothers.

Its funny when people say the Diaz brothers have not evolved and act like they have no business being in the title picture but those same idiots will trumpet Anthony Rumble Johnson as the next possible title contender despite losing to the current champion in the same fashion he has always lost (taken down and choked). I guess because Rumble can KO some people brutally from time to time it means he is immune to "evolution". Diaz bros just "refuse" to evolve... Rumble... does he refuse? Is being grinded and broken by a 170 lb Josh Koscheck and then being grinded and broken by a 205 lb Daniel Cormier a sign of evolution? This is the guy everyone thinks is the next challenger to the title...despite being grinded, beaten down and then choked out by the current champion. However, the Diaz bros THEY refuse to evolve.

 

[IBeLurkin]

I don't understand this type of sentiment that is often directed towards Nick and Nate. People say they refuse to "evolve". Last time I checked, both of them have fought for titles in the last few years. A lot of people thought Nick beat Carlos Condit... who just recently fought Robbie Lawler (who Nick has KO'd) to a razor close decision. Not to mention Nick also fought GSP for a title... and just for the hell of it fought Anderson Silva in what was a competitive fight. Nate Diaz has also only been in high profile fights in recent years and has fought for a title. Both of the brothers have won titles before. What is there to evolve? There are a shit ton of fighters who people think are great all around fighters who haven't had the success of the Diaz brothers.

Its funny when people say the Diaz brothers have not evolved and act like they have no business being in the title picture but those same idiots will trumpet Anthony Rumble Johnson as the next possible title contender despite losing to the current champion in the same fashion he has always lost (taken down and choked). I guess because Rumble can KO some people brutally from time to time it means he is immune to "evolution". Diaz bros just "refuse" to evolve... Rumble... does he refuse? Is being grinded and broken by a 170 lb Josh Koscheck and then being grinded and broken by a 205 lb Daniel Cormier a sign of evolution? This is the guy everyone thinks is the next challenger to the title...despite being grinded, beaten down and then choked out by the current champion. However, the Diaz bros THEY refuse to evolve.

Have the Diaz Bros learned to stop high level wrestlers from neutralizing them? Or maybe improved their offensive wrestling? Maybe then they could actually win top fights in the UFC.

That's how they could evolve. Let me know when that happens.

 

[wildchild88]

I don't understand this type of sentiment that is often directed towards Nick and Nate. People say they refuse to "evolve". Last time I checked, both of them have fought for titles in the last few years. A lot of people thought Nick beat Carlos Condit... who just recently fought Robbie Lawler (who Nick has KO'd) to a razor close decision. Not to mention Nick also fought GSP for a title... and just for the hell of it fought Anderson Silva in what was a competitive fight. Nate Diaz has also only been in high profile fights in recent years and has fought for a title. Both of the brothers have won titles before. What is there to evolve? There are a shit ton of fighters who people think are great all around fighters who haven't had the success of the Diaz brothers.

Its funny when people say the Diaz brothers have not evolved and act like they have no business being in the title picture but those same idiots will trumpet Anthony Rumble Johnson as the next possible title contender despite losing to the current champion in the same fashion he has always lost (taken down and choked). I guess because Rumble can KO some people brutally from time to time it means he is immune to "evolution". Diaz bros just "refuse" to evolve... Rumble... does he refuse? Is being grinded and broken by a 170 lb Josh Koscheck and then being grinded and broken by a 205 lb Daniel Cormier a sign of evolution? This is the guy everyone thinks is the next challenger to the title...despite being grinded, beaten down and then choked out by the current champion. However, the Diaz bros THEY refuse to evolve.

The Diaz brothers are exceptional within their disciplines, but they neglect to change up their game with kicks/kicking defense, knees and thai clinch, offensive wrestling, movement. Great fighters but they stick religiously to a style.

They are very good, but they get gameplanned on very easily.

 

[SCTwins]

Nate is a great fighter, but,

His game is the same, and he was getting bloodied in the first round against Conor,

Same fighter, different match ups.

Diaz's are masters of boxing and bjj, but refuse to evolve, always staying a step behind the elite champs..

Hey man, Diaz actually threw real, hard kicks against both MJ and Conor Mac. He also checked a couple leg kicks against Johnson which I've never seen a Diaz do before.

Also he looked in the best shape of his life against MJ.

I gotta give him credit for those things. Maybe he's finally 'getting it' instead of being stubborn about adapting to the game.

 

[fatlipjesus]

I don't understand this type of sentiment that is often directed towards Nick and Nate. People say they refuse to "evolve". Last time I checked, both of them have fought for titles in the last few years. A lot of people thought Nick beat Carlos Condit... who just recently fought Robbie Lawler (who Nick has KO'd) to a razor close decision. Not to mention Nick also fought GSP for a title... and just for the hell of it fought Anderson Silva in what was a competitive fight. Nate Diaz has also only been in high profile fights in recent years and has fought for a title. Both of the brothers have won titles before. What is there to evolve? There are a shit ton of fighters who people think are great all around fighters who haven't had the success of the Diaz brothers.

Its funny when people say the Diaz brothers have not evolved and act like they have no business being in the title picture but those same idiots will trumpet Anthony Rumble Johnson as the next possible title contender despite losing to the current champion in the same fashion he has always lost (taken down and choked). I guess because Rumble can KO some people brutally from time to time it means he is immune to "evolution". Diaz bros just "refuse" to evolve... Rumble... does he refuse? Is being grinded and broken by a 170 lb Josh Koscheck and then being grinded and broken by a 205 lb Daniel Cormier a sign of evolution? This is the guy everyone thinks is the next challenger to the title...despite being grinded, beaten down and then choked out by the current champion. However, the Diaz bros THEY refuse to evolve.

Rumble has gone 12-2 since Nick Diaz won his last fight against BJ Penn. Diaz has gone 0-3. And you're saying who exactly deserves a title shot and who doesn't?

 

[Deleted member 196663]

The Diaz brothers are exceptional within their disciplines, but they neglect to change up their game with kicks/kicking defense, knees and thai clinch, offensive wrestling, movement. Great fighters but they stick religiously to a style.

They are very good, but they get gameplanned on very easily.

Adding all that shit to their MMA game could actually make them worse. You don't get exceptionally good at BJJ and boxing by having ten other things you have to learn/maintain and integrate into your style.

 

[MCS]

Nate is a great fighter, but,

His game is the same, and he was getting bloodied in the first round against Conor,

Same fighter, different match ups.

Diaz's are masters of boxing and bjj, but refuse to evolve, always staying a step behind the elite champs..

Yep, the Diaz bros are great fighters but always come with the same skillset. Parry, shoulder roll, taunt, body shots, 1-2's. Not many kicks, basically zero takedowns and look to box the full 5 if necessary. Use BJJ if their opponent shoots.

RDA's top game was too good and he studied tape on Nate's range. In and out, low kicks, takedowns and measured GnP to stay out of subs = win. This won't change unless Nate or Nick change.

Lawler's weakness was his bottom game and sub defense. He's now very good at using butterfly guard to stand up and has improved his sprawl. So he gets to strike more freely. Those are tangible improvements.

 

[xMaxPower]

Nate has always been elite. There are just some styles that are tough for him. I think he beats everyone at LW except for RDA. Khabib can beat RDA and Nate will beat Khabib in the future.

I have noticed that Nate added a few elements to his game. He uses better footwork now and doesn't just plod forward and doesn't mind going backwards now which is good. He showed this against Conor. It was like Nate took Conors footwork and Conor was the one plodding forward. He was also using front kicks and knees and good clinch work as well. The only weakness Nate has is HARD leg kicks (not the pussy leg kicks that MJ throws), but then again only RDA, Barboza, and maybe Daruish throw hard enough leg kicks to give Nate trouble, but I still favor Nate over both Barboza and Daruish.