Pedro is my long time friend and TTMMA partner - but the question he sent me this morning (title of this post) was designed to get me going on a rant, moaning and getting emotional about situations in the UFC. He has nothing personal against Nate Diaz, he shares the same opinion many do, that he's entertaining, a high class martial artist.... but he's annoying as hell*. And his latest antics don't help his image out in the people's view. "I would like to request to be released from the @ufc. It's time for me to be on my way .. ?" Nate Diaz tweeted this, and it was addressed to the UFC, and the UFC President Dana White. What to make of this? I have five opinions... 1. It's a professional request - you've got to give him that** 2. I want to just forget about it, it means pretty much nothing, it feels like fighters retire every event if something doesn't go their way - let's forget about it right?*** 3. Surely this is a bluff to maximise a new deal? Like his longtime training partner just did, Gilbert Melendez. 4. Diaz being Diaz. 5. Should we really forget about him and move on? But I'll focus on just one, the last one - Should we really forget about him and move on? So, Diaz has already had a fantastic career; 19 UFC fights, with a 12-7 record, has eleven post fight bonuses (five fights, five submissions and one knockout of the night), he's fought near enough all the top talent**** in the UFC during his time in the company, he's always willing to get into a war, meaning he's one of the most entertaining fighters in UFC history, and of course - he pumps a fight up as good as any*****. BUT, is he done? Have we seen the best of him already? Sure he's only 28 years old, so you'd say he has at least 3-4 years left of top quality fights in him. I'm one of his biggest supporters, but here's what I know: - He's already had one title shot at lightweight, and came up well short against then champion Benson Henderson. - He followed up his title defeat with another loss to Josh Thompson (his first career TKO stoppage). - He's a 19 fight veteran of the company, who believes he can get a shot at the title or a fight against a top 3-4 guy in the division at any moment he chooses. - The UFC has changed, gone are the days of being a one trick pony, you have to be skilled at many aspects to be a champion. - The lightweight division is loaded with talent, the top four; Pettis, Henderson, Melendez and Thompson won't be fighting Diaz anytime soon (Pettis is slated to fight Melendez for the title, whilst both Henderson and Thompson have recently defeated Diaz), the next level in the rankings is; Grant, Dos Anjos and Nurmagomedov - that is where Diaz fits in, Anjos is scheduled to fight Nurmagomedov, whilst Grant is getting closer to returning to action. If Diaz wants to wait to fight Grant - that makes sense, if not - he has a host of fighters who will want a crack; Miller, Cerrone, Maynard (all three have already lost to Diaz) - the fight I would make is with Rustam Khabilov. Would we miss him? Sure, losing both Diaz's is bad for business, but it will give the company a collective 'ahhh finally' feel (fans included). So, should he retire? No, from a realistic standpoint, he's a top ten fighter in anyone's mind in the lightweigth division, he could possibly make another run at the title, but he obviously wants it now, and he isn't going to get it - so in that sense, why not retire, there is other options avliable to him, like Melendez found out... ...he joins Bellator? Why not, he has guaranteed fights against Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez - MONEY MONEY MONEY. * I share this opinion to a point, but I like fighters who go against the grain a little. ** Let's face it, he doesn't do much in a professional way. *** We know this isn't going to happen, yet we forget about Gilbert Melendez getting robbed in a title fight against Benson Henderson so easily... sorry, I should stop bringing that up. **** Gray Maynard, Josh Thompson, Benson Henderson, Jim Miller, Donald Cerrone, Takanori Gomi, Rory MacDonald - that's his last seven opponents. ***** His brother Nick and Chael Sonnen just edge him out. enjoy, stay safe, peace TJ TTMMA/@teamtalkmma
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