“His neck was pretty messed up”- Coach Cesar Gracie reveals the circumstances with Nick Diaz before UFC 266
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A still of Nick Diaz vs Robbie Lawler at UFC 266
MMA vet and fan favourite Nick Diaz made a return to the octagon last year. His last fight was against former UFC champion and one of the greatest Anderson Silva back in January 2015 at UFC 183. After the layoff, Diaz came to fight the former UFC Welterweight champion, Robbie Lawler. The fight at UFC 266 was a rematch of their first fight back in 2004 at UFC 47.
In their first meeting at UFC 47, Diaz picked up the win by second-round KO of the brawler. Nick Diaz then went on to compete in the WEC, Pride, Dream, Elite XC and Strikeforce. He has had the most success in the Strikeforce. He went on to become the Strikeforce Welterweight champion.
In the rematch, Diaz looked good in the first round, landing shots. However, as the fight progressed he looked noticeably slower. In the latter rounds, Lawler pushed the pace and started battering Diaz to earn a third-round stoppage. Earlier, the fight was scheduled for 170lbs but Diaz was unable to make weight which led to the bout moving to 185lbs.
Going into the third round Lawler dropped Diaz in the opening minute with a punch. He then called for him to stand up. The referee asked Diaz to get up, but after Diaz refused the fight was stopped.
Nick Diaz was under a lot of stress before the fight
In an interview with the Submission Radio Diaz’s coach, Cesar Gracie revealed the truth behind the loss at UFC 266. Cesar further talked about Nick Diaz’s return to the octagon in 2023. Gracie cleared the air as fans were left puzzled after the bizarre stoppage at UFC 266. Fans were also concerned about Nick’s health.
Talking about the fight he said, “So Nick, he went into that fight and his neck was pretty messed up. Robbie’s a great, tough fighter and everything. And, Nick was doing great. And then you kind of see Nick kind of just kind of fading as the fight wore on. So, Nick had an operation very recently here seven weeks ago. So, two of the discs had ruptured in his neck before the fight.“
“So, he was having numbness of the hands. That’s why he didn’t make 170. He fought at 185, is cause it was impossible to train. He just didn’t have any strength. He didn’t have what you’re used to, the Nick Diaz, you know, he didn’t have it.”
Coach Gracie further added, “Nick had to pretty much take that fight, There was a lot of things weighing in on him. What people don’t know is that the commission in Vegas was still demanding their money from — remember the marijuana test that we didn’t pass? … They said ‘you still owe us that $75,000.’ Even though it’s legal now?’ When that happened, it wasn’t, and we want to, and so we gotta fight. “
“You’re gonna have to deduct it from your fight purse.’ And Nick really hadn’t signed the best contract in the world. And so what happened was, they said, we’ll pay you more money, but you have to fight this fight here, and on this date. It was a thing. It was like, if you don’t take that fight, you’re almost gonna fight for free, you know, by the time [you pay taxes and the fine].”
Cesar discussed Diaz’s health stating, “So, we finally were able to go and he got an operation and he put the titanium discs in his neck. So, he’s feeling great from that right now, And it’s like we’re getting the old Nick back, which is really good. So, now that that’s happened, we’re waiting for the doctors. He’s got another appointment I think next month. And then he should be cleared to start his hard training again.“
“Because right now he can only run and hit the pads and everything. But he definitely wants to fight. And the UFC, I’ve been in contact with them, they just actually called me the other day asking about Nick, and there’s some pretty cool fight options that are in front of us…” Grace added.
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Abhijit Singh
(125 Articles Published)