Fourteen years ago today, Nick Diaz felt he was unjustly denied the UFC championship.
The Stockton native has long been a fan favorite throughout UFC and MMA history, captivating audiences with his exciting fights. He even earned the distinction of becoming Strikeforce’s first Welterweight Champion. However, one major accolade has eluded him throughout his career in the cage: the UFC title. Despite having two opportunities to claim the championship on MMA’s biggest platform, the 42-year-old Diaz never managed to secure the belt.
Before his defeat to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158, Diaz had attempted to capture the division’s interim championship belt.
On February 4, 2012, UFC 143 took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, headlined by the welterweight title fight between Diaz and Carlos Condit. The event also featured notable victories by Fabricio Werdum, Josh Koscheck, Renan Barao, and Dustin Poirier, who handed Max Holloway a loss in his UFC debut with a devastating triangle armbar submission.
Condit emerged victorious over Diaz by unanimous decision in the main event, but Diaz strongly disputed the judges’ ruling. Furious with the outcome, Diaz refused to accept the decision and announced his retirement from MMA.
Speaking with Joe Rogan after the fight, Diaz said, “I’m not going to accept the fact that this was a loss. I’ve lost fights like this before, and I’m not going to accept that either. Carlos is a great guy, and I’m happy for him and his family, but I think I’m done with this MMA thing.” He added that although his career had been good and he was paid well, he didn’t see a future in continuing under those circumstances.
Reflecting on the fight, Diaz said, “I pushed this guy backwards. He was running away from me the whole match… I took the harder shots. He was running the whole time, kicking my legs with little baby leg kicks… I understand that’s how they’re going to win here. I don’t want to play this game anymore.”
Since that controversial loss, Diaz’s MMA journey has been turbulent. After testing positive for marijuana following a 2015 bout with Anderson Silva, he faced a six-year hiatus from competition. Diaz eventually returned but was defeated by Robbie Lawler at UFC 266, prompting many to call for his retirement. Failed fight bookings in 2024 led to time spent in a Mexican rehab facility, from which he was recently released.
Despite these setbacks, Diaz remains determined to pursue the UFC title. In an interview with Baja Rehabilitation, he expressed confidence, saying, “I think I’m going to be world champion, and I think it’s easy money. It’s different than before. People will see a brand new me.”
Fan Take: Nick Diaz’s persistence and belief in a comeback embody the heart of MMA’s unpredictable nature. For fight fans, his quest for redemption adds significant excitement and hope, proving that in this sport, anything is possible—even after years away from the spotlight.
