The online mixed martial arts community has a certain “love” for the Diaz family. For as many fans as Nick and Nate Diaz have garnered for what they do inside the cage, they have cultivated just as many for how they conduct themselves outside of it when they are in front of the cameras. Hate them or love them, both Diaz brothers have reached a level of cult fame that will benefit them both for an extended period of time On December 8th, the UFC will have another opportunity to feature one of the brothers winning gold, which is what the organization has wanted for a long while.
At UFC on Fox 5, Nate Diaz will be facing Benson Henderson in what will be the most important fight of his career. Since cutting back down to the lightweight division, Diaz has been on an impressive streak, as he has defeated Jim Miller, Donald Cerrone, and Takanori Gomi in one-sided fashion. Before that he was a contender at the weight class, even though he had struggled against standout wrestlers in Gray Maynard, Joe Stevenson, and Clay Guida. With a 9-3 record at 155, Diaz has truly worked to get into this position, and is now riding a three-fight win streak.
However, it is worth pointing out that Nate is in this position largely because of the popularity that his brother Nick has helped create. The UFC thought they had a gold mine in former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz when he was given the opportunity to face Georges St. Pierre in a matchup that everyone wanted to see. Matchmakers tried to create the fight on two separate occasions, then, when he was defeated by Carlos Condit this past February, nearly lined up an immediate rematch for him. Then, after he was suspended for a failed drug test, the UFC went to bat for him after his hearing with the NSAC, which they rarely do for athletes under their employ. All the while, Nick’s following continued to grow, as it became the “in” thing to do to like the MMA bad guy.
Now as the pending return of Nick Diaz comes closer this February, the rumblings are that St. Pierre may jockey for a chance to battle the Stockton native rather than the consensus number one contender in Johny Hendricks. Do not be surprised if the UFC would jump at this idea simply because having Diaz face St. Pierre would be more financially beneficial for the organization — even more so if he found a way to defeat the Canadian champion.
Though Nick’s brother Nate is riding a three fight win streak, in reality, if you look at what he’s done over that time period, it doesn’t quite compare to what other fighters have done to earn title shots. At one point in time, three wins was enough to get you a shot at the title, but as the UFC has built deeper divisions, that arbitrary number seems to have been pushed to five or above. Benson Henderson is one of the few individuals who have obtained shots at a title with fewer wins in recent memory.
To take the issue one step further, you can even question the quality of wins that Diaz has had over his run as well below the standard that has been set to earn a title shot, especially in the lightweight division. Of his three victories, the only individual who has been ranked within the top ten is Miller. Cerrone, though he had been on a strong run as well, could be considered a top 15 talent at best. However, as the UFC begins to move towards the entertainment side of combat sports, you can expect more individuals to to be placed in these title situations with less-extensive win streaks, as ratings are becoming more important than rankings. The UFC matchmakers know that Diaz will walk into the Octagon and put on an action-packed fight more towards the liking of the mainstream media and fans that will have their eyes on this free contest. Along with that, if Nate pulls out a victory, his ability to garner attention due to his namesake is something that the UFC relishes, whether they will ever admit it or not.
Liking the “bad guy” in professional sports is not a new idea. From the Detroit Pistons, to the New England Patriots, and now the Diaz brothers, organizations have long prospered by riding the backs of their “controversial” and “polarizing” stars, who can inspire either love or hate within fans. As Nate Diaz steps into the cage to face Benson Henderson for the lightweight title, you can believe that more than just his sharp striking and top shelf Jiu Jitsu skills have gotten him to this point. And one can only wonder exactly how much the UFC’s love of the Diaz name has helped position him for a title shot that many other individuals have yet to obtain. Regardless, however, this is going to be a very exciting bout that has the potential to impress the millions watching, and do wonders for the organization as a whole.
