Cesar Gracie On Silva vs. Diaz: Someone Will Get Knocked Out
Former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz had been campaigning for “big fights” inside the Octagon and he got his wish earlier this week when he was unexpectedly booked to face MMA legend Anderson Silva at UFC 183.
But, according to Diaz’s coach Cesar Gracie, he’s known the fight would happen for some time. In a recent interview with MMAFighting.com he also said he expects it to be a great matchup:
“I already knew this fight would happen a long time ago,” Gracie said, “and I think it’s a great fight.”
Despite both men coming into the contest with back-to-back losses, the fight is expected to be one if the biggest in UFC history and a true “superfight” for the fans.
Diaz’s return to the UFC was about as good as it gets as he handed B.J. Penn one of the most brutal beatings we’ve seen in the Octagon. But, things never went so well for the notorious fighter after that as he was outpointed by Carlos Condit at UFC 143 before getting smothered by Georges St. Pierre in his return a year later.
Silva was considered to be the greatest fighter on the planet a little over a year ago but a pair of freak losses to the the current middleweight champion Chris Weidman knocked him off his perch.
Considering both men styles, Gracie thinks the bout will play out on the feet where he thinks Diaz will have the advantage and he doesn’t think the fight will go the distance.
“I believe it’s going to be a standup fight the entire time,” he said. “”Nick is better on the ground, his jiu-jitsu is better, but I believe it’s going to be a standup fight and it won’t last five rounds. I think it will be over before five rounds, someone will get knocked out.
“Nick is hard to knock out, he was knocked out only once in the beginning of his career. Anderson is bigger than Nick, but he’s turning 40 now and his chin is not the same anymore. If Nick can get in there and punch him, I think he wins this fight. Nick will turn 31 in August, he’s just a kid.”
Diaz is set to move up to the Brazilian’s weight class for the fight and Gracie thinks thats where Silva will have the slight advantage. He doesn’t know who will win but he expects it to be a good matchup.
“”Anderson is used to fighting bigger guys, like Chael Sonnen and those guys,” he said, “so I think the weight difference will help Anderson. Anderson is fast and dangerous. I don’t know who’s going to win, but I know it’s going to be a good fight.”
Who do you think will have the edge when the two meet?
