Video: Nick Diaz vs. Nate Diaz Sparring, With Interview From Andre Ward

UFC superstar Nate Diaz is currently all the rage in the mixed martial arts world. After defeating Conor McGregor at UFC 196, the Stockton bad boy is finally seeing the benefits of nine years hard work in the UFC’s lightweight and welterweight ranks. He stepped in to face McGregor on just 11 days notice, but made the most of his opportunity by battering ‘The Notorious’ on the fee and sinking in a tight rear naked choke for the tap in round two.

While talking with FOX Sports immediately after the fight, Diaz said he believed the UFC was ‘never going to give him a full camp’ against McGregor. Diaz also indicated they were trying to do the same with Frankie Edgar (who was injured when the call came in to replace Rafael dos Anjos), stating ‘They are trying to bring him to the top.’ Much like his older brother Nick, Nate Diaz does not buy in to the ‘BS’ as he’d put it.

The striking of Nate Diaz was severely overlooked in the lead up to his UFC 196 bout with Conor McGregor. It was widely predicted that the only way he’d get a win against a creative stand up fighter like the Irish superstar would be to go to the mat ASAP. As it turned out, Diaz’s prediction came true, and it was McGregor who initiated a ground fight when the punches started to sting.

Take a look at this video of Nick and Nate Diaz sparring each other, followed by a recent post fight interview with 29-0 former world champion Andre Ward, where he reveals what it’s like to spar with Nate Diaz:

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Former WBA and WBC super middleweight champion and current light-heavyweight contender Andre Ward is fresh off a Saturday night victory over Sullivan Barrera. He punished the taller man for the full duration of the fight, scoring a thunderous right hook knockdown in the early goings too. Speaking directly after that fight, Ward claims Nate Diaz is a hard guy to spar with, and will ‘slap you to death.’ Check it out:

“He’s hard to fight…I mean he’s really hard to spar…he’ll slap you to death…I sparred with Nick and Nate…he always comes in shape and he throws a million punches from a million different angles…he’s just a bad boy,”