Nick Diaz To Johny Hendricks: You Got Your A** Whooped All Four Rounds
Polarizing (and suddenly out of retirement) UFC welterweight Nick Diaz has recently been in the news for his usual trash-talking ways, calling out for a 170-pound title shot since February’s UFC 170.
But Diaz’ latest antics reached an all-time high this weekend when he taunted Johny Hendricks at the UFC 171 weigh-ins and clarified his intentions to fight this year. He’s looking for only one fight, however, a title fight, and with a long list of talented fighters lining up for a shot at Hendricks, Diaz may have to wait his turn.
After all, he hasn’t won a UFC bout since October 2011 when he outpointed an overmatched BJ Penn at UFC 137. That doesn’t matter to Diaz, who believes he’s far and away the biggest draw for the next welterweight championship tilt. Speaking to Sportsnet (via MMA Fighting), Diaz believes Robbie Lawler beat Hendricks up in Dallas, and he’s looking to re-create that scene:
“Maybe [UFC] want me to Johny Hendricks. Take an a** whooping. Right to your face, bro. Worse than tonight, because you got your a** whooped all four rounds. I seen it. I seen your little amateur style. I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to fight the right fight. Trying to get a fight this year.
Talked to Dana [White], hardly, but he knows my mindset. He knows where I’m at. Behind the scenes here [in Dallas] everyone knows what’s going on. That’s what’s up. Me in a title fight. I need a real fight. Let the fans have what they want to see. That’s why I’m here.”
With so many worthy contenders out there, it’s very hard to make a case for Diaz getting an immediate title shot. Still, he is one of the biggest draws the UFC has to offer, even after being out of the cage for over a year, so it’s in the promotions best interest to find him a big fight. With top contenders like Rory MacDonald and Hector Lombard available as potential opponents, Diaz said he’s the smart choice to book in the main event against Hendricks:
“Everybody’s going to make more money. Fans get to see what they want to see. You want to see people get tapped out or knocked out? You want to see a real fight? You want to see drama queens act drama? Want to see real motherf***ers act real?
[Hendricks] should never have opened his mouth around me. We don’t have no beef, though. I like Johny. I think he’s a nice guy, but he tried to get loud with me, I get loud with him back. It’s all business. It’s a good fight.”
There’s no doubt that Diaz can drum up controversy and hype out of thin air, making him an invaluable asset to UFC. However, after sparsely competing in the last few years and getting dominated by Georges St. Pierre in his last fight, has the wrestler-heavy UFC welterweight division passed him by?
I guess he’s only willing to fight the champion, so we may never find out. Let’s hope we do.
Photo Credit: Eric Bolte for USA TODAY Sports
