By Kelsey Mowatt
If anyone still questioned whether or not Nick Diaz was one of the sport’s most entertaining fighters, heading into the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion’s bout with Paul Daley last night, they should have zero doubts today. Despite having a decided advantage on the ground over Daley, an aggressive and taunting Diaz elected to exchange with the powerful striker, and for a couple of frantic moments it appeared as though that decision may have cost him the belt. Two times in his instant classic with the British fighter, Diaz was sent to the canvas after being touched by Daley’s punching power, but the Stockton welterweight’s survival instincts and renowned grappling skills allowed him to recover.
“I was okay; he just knocked me off balance and I was just watching for him to follow up,” Diaz commented in the post fight press conference. “I’m probably better off down there on my knees anyways, then standing up with him when I’m knocked off balance like that; until I get my footing. If I go down, I go down. What are you going to do down there? He could have hit me with something there.”
Of course, Diaz has demonstrated repeatedly over the last few years that he also possesses dangerous striking skills, and once again it was the champion’s smothering punches that were responsible for the win. While Diaz managed to out strike the striker, by finishing Daley with a flurry of blows just seconds before the opening round came to an end, the outspoken fighter conceded afterwards that his latest title defense could have gone better.
“I think I’m still a little pumped up from the weigh-in,” said Diaz, while discussing the emotion filled, one round war. “It could have been working with me or against me; I don’t know. I think it could have a gone a little cleaner out there for me.”
With the memorable victory, Diaz extended his winning streak to ten and his overall record to 25-7. Although this latest performance may not have been perfect, the prospects of Diaz landing even higher profile fights over the coming months, have likely never been greater.
