One of the current criticisms of fighters from fans and other fighters surround around one fighter stalling the fight by controlling his or her opponent and not trying to finish things. Despite your opinion on this hot button MMA topic, #1 lightweight contender Nate Diaz and his head trainer Cesar Gracie don’t feel like they have that path as an option.
Diaz is weeks out from his championship fight with Benson Henderson at UFC on FOX 5, and they don’t expect to win the fight by decision. When you ask the pair directly, they just assume they will lose all fights that go to a close decision.
Diaz told Inside MMA:
“I just don’t think that I have any chance of winning any type of decision. So, I’ve got to go out there and do what I’ve got to do to finish my opponent, be the better fighter and win the fight. Either way, if it goes to a decision, I’m going to try to be the one outscoring, outpointing and outdoing him.”
Gracie took it a step further:
“So, yeah, unfortunately, we’ve got to get those finishes or win something so lopsided that we get a decision. I’ve never seen a close decision where the nod was given to the Diazes. If it’s close, they’re going lose. I don’t know why. I think, maybe, the judges don’t care for them that much. But, for whatever it is, at the end of the day, the fans know who it is who wins the fights, and the fans are the ones who love to see these guys fight.”
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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If the fight was in Vegas I’d agree Diaz should be concerned but in Seattle he should be fine.
War Diaz!
Diaz/Gracie are paranoid but I like their approach to fighting.
I can definitely see Henderson trying to hold Diaz down and ride out a decision. Better watch those sub attempts though!