Is Nate Diaz Being Forced To Fight Matt Brown? Diaz Sure Thinks So
After taking an extended leave of absence due to contract negotiations and the desire for more money, Nate Diaz finally returned to action last December at UFC on FOX 13, getting brutally beaten by now champion Rafael dos Anjos. In typical Diaz fashion, he left his future unclear after the fight, but news recently broke that he would meet Matt Brown at UFC 189 in July.
However, things got a little cloudy soon after when the Stockton native confessed that he had never actually agreed to the fight. Appearing on today’s edition (April 13, 2015) of the MMA Hour, Diaz explained his side of the story, saying that although the fight seems like a great fight, he never necessarily okayed the bout so to say:
“I was told the Brown fight was talked about but they were supposed to work out a deal and figure it all out, negotiate the fight the next Monday. Then all of a sudden (it’s announced),” Diaz said. “I never necessarily okayed the fight, the fight was never negotiated, and then all of a sudden I was getting blown up about the fight.
“I think that’s a great fight, everybody would want to see that fight — I would if I was just a fight fan, that sounds like an awesome fight, like a fight you’d like to see. But it was never talked about, and it kind of feels like I’m being forced into a fight instead of talked to and dealt with fairly.”
Continuing on, the younger Diaz brother admitted that he hasn’t even talked to the UFC about it, saying that he would expect a call before a fight was announced. Diaz also said that if the circumstances are right then the fight makes sense, but he will be awaiting a call from his employers:
“They just have the push power,” Diaz said. “They say I’m fighting and I’m fighting now, so I don’t know. I don’t think so. It don’t work like that. Maybe with all these other guys out here, but I think if you’re going to fight somebody next Saturday, I’m not going to just say that you’re going to fight somebody and assume you can show up. I’m probably going to call you and make sure you can show up, right? Talk about it.
“I haven’t (talked to anybody), but if it was dealt with properly and the circumstances were better, then I’m all aboard. That’d be a great fight, especially with a fighter like that.”
The Stockton native even went as far to say that this is not the first time something like this has happened. Diaz mentioned that something similar happened with his last fight, with the UFC just telling him that he was fighting, possibly without his agreement:
“What happened with this Matt Brown fight is the same thing that happened with the last fight,” Diaz said. “They didn’t really, it was just kind of like, ‘you’re fighting.’ Well then I guess I’m fighting. It’s all good, it’s in the past, it already happened. I just, I’m not into being tricked into fighting anymore. I think I should have a little more say. I think I’m older now, and like I said, if I’m going to fight, I think it should be worth my while, not just because they say I’m fighting and now I’m fighting.”
While there seems to be some figuring out to do, the fight itself is undoubtedly intriguing nonetheless. Despite both men being on losing streaks, they’re both established fighters who are known for pushing the pace and always coming forward, which could be entertaining.
For Brown, this seems like a bout in which a win would put him back on track. For Diaz, a win over Brown, despite Brown’s recent skid, could possibly toss his name into the top 10 at 170-pounds.
Do you think this fight will indeed happen?
