Nathan Donald “Nate” Diaz is an American mixed martial artist currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has competed in UFC for more than a decade and has established himself as one of the top contenders in the promotion. Diaz has a level of success few can rival, with an MMA record of 20–11 (as of February 2021). The Stockton, California, native is also an accomplished MMA coach and mentor. His professional successes as well as his strong public persona have made him one of the sport’s most popular figures.
Table Of Contents:
1. Early Life and Background of Nate Diaz
2. Start of Fighting Career
3. Rise of Nate Diaz in UFC
4. Training Philosophy and Coaching Career
5. Personal Life of Nate Diaz
6. Nate Diaz Quotes
- Early Life and Background
Nate Diaz was born in Stockton, California, to parents of Mexican descent. While growing up, Diaz and his older brother, MMA fighter Nick Diaz, trained in the martial arts of karate, jiu-jitsu, and boxing. Nate Diaz, who is now 34 years old, began training at an early age and displayed exceptional fighting skills, quickly earning him recognition in local grappling tournaments. At age 17, Diaz won the Brazilian jiu-jitsu Nationals as a brown belt, in 2004. Diaz then went on to form his own fighting team, the ‘Skrap Pack’, with his brother and other fighters.
- Start of Fighting Career
In 2005, Nate Diaz made his professional debut and entered the WEC lightweight tournament. He won his first three fights before being defeated by Hermes Franca, who went on to win the tournament. Diaz then signed with the UFC in 2007 and began fighting in the lightweight division. He made his UFC debut against Cole Miller, which he won by submission in the second round. Diaz went on to rack up more victories and become one of the best fighters in the UFC lightweight division.
- Rise of Nate Diaz in UFC
In 2011, Diaz emerged as a top contender in the lightweight division, with an impressive win streak that included victories over Takanori Gomi, Jim Miller, and Donald Cerrone. In 2013, Diaz fought Benson Henderson and Brendan Schaub, both of which he won in impressive fashion. Diaz then faced lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis, in the UFC 185 main event, which he lost in a controversial decision. After this loss, Diaz won seven of his next eight fights and became one of the most dominant and feared fighters in the UFC.
- Training Philosophy and Coaching Career
In recent years, Diaz has emerged as a prominent MMA coach, with his own training philosophy and style. Diaz believes in training at full intensity and pushing his fighters both mentally and physically. Diaz’s focus on technique and hard work has made him one of the sport’s most respected and sought-after coaches. He currently works as a coach for his brother’s team, Alvarez Combat Sports, and has trained several top UFC fighters.
- Personal Life
When he is not fighting or coaching, Nate Diaz is an active participant in his community. He has hosted numerous charity events to support various causes such as animal welfare, children’s healthcare, and poverty alleviation. Diaz has also become a voice for the marijuana industry, having been openly supportive of its use in the past. Diaz is often seen giving interviews, training his fighters, and attending media events. He has also become a popular figure in the pharmaceutical industry and has partnered with several organizations to promote their products.
Nate Diaz Quotes
“Money talks. I want the biggest fight. Whoever I’ve got to fight – the biggest show, biggest payday – that’s what I want.” – Nate Diaz
“I’m trying to stay focused on what I’m doing. I don’t want a whole lot of things going on – people to call back, or text messages or whatever. I chill out, relax a little bit, and then I don’t have those issues.” – Nate Diaz
“You know when I fight, I’m going to sell out the show. Everyone wants to see someone get knocked out or tapped out.” – Nate Diaz
“I never did steroids in my life. I know all the fighters; they are all on steroids.” – Nate Diaz
“If anybody’s getting a shot, somebody’s getting a shot against me because I’m the guy to beat.” – Nate Diaz
“Whoever has lost a fight in the UFC and hasn’t wanted to fight that guy the next day shouldn’t be in the sport.” – Nate Diaz
“I’m not sure what the UFC’s agenda is when it comes to me. It’s their show, their press. They can change to whatever they want to do at any point. They own this thing. They can do whatever they want.” – Nate Diaz
“I’ve lost fights before where I’m landing more punches and I’m moving away from the guy. So, the way that they score things at the end doesn’t seem very consistent to me.” – Nate Diaz
“I don’t like not having a job. Especially when I started Mixed Martial Arts, this was all I could do.” – Nate Diaz
“It cost me a lot of money to have a vacation, basically. It’s nice to step back and see there’s more to life.” – Nate Diaz
“I don’t come and fight for fun. I don’t do that. I don’t like to hurt people for fun.” – Nate Diaz
“My parents moved around Stockton and Lodi. I had a lot of anxiety about jumping into another classroom. They were always putting me in special ed. But I was smart; I wasn’t like these kids in the special-ed classes. But it would make me feel a little bit stupid.” – Nate Diaz
“I always took a fight; I always took everybody. I fought everybody.” – Nate Diaz
“I’m fighting hard; I’m training hard. I’m still walking over people and stepping over people to get where I’m going, and I would really like to give back, especially to my mom, who was there for me when I was a kid.” – Nate Diaz
“They don’t want to see me winning.” – Nate Diaz
“I need a vacation anyway. They fight me too much. I’m not going to be the one to back out of these fights.” – Nate Diaz
“People like to talk a lot about me, about how I have anxiety or social disorders. I’ll admit to anxiety, but it has nothing to do with media or being in front of a camera or being around people. It has to do with dealing with the sparring that I’m going to have or the workouts that I’m going to have from day to day.” – Nate Diaz
“I win by submissions, knockouts. There are guys ranked above me, but no one’s interested in seeing them fight. They want to see me fight.” – Nate Diaz
“I don’t see a superstar out there. I don’t see Georges St-Pierre coming back.” Nate Diaz
“I want to fight the best guy. I always want to fight the best guy.” – Nate Diaz
“I want to go against the best fighters. That’s why I’m always calling out Georges St-Pierre. I don’t have anything against Georges St-Pierre. I think he’s a great fighter.” – Nate Diaz
“I don’t love to fight; I don’t want to fight.” – Nate Diaz
“It’s just kinda irritating to me that we’re awarding people in mixed martial arts for trying to move away and not finish the fight.” – Nate Diaz
“Once I turned pro, I was like,’ OK, this is not fun and games now. This is me. I’m going to come, and I work on karma. I’m not going to go after somebody if I don’t have a reason behind it, so as soon as there is some sort of a reason for me to do something that I need to do, then I’ll do it.’” – Nate Diaz
“People don’t understand: I’ve had 37 fights, three to five fights every year, for 17 years. That does something to somebody. These suspensions are the only vacations I’ve ever had.” – Nate Diaz
“I’m the only person in this sport, for the most part, that ain’t on steroids. Now there’s new rules in effect, yeah, you’ve got guys not on steroids now, but they used to be. They’ve always been on steroids.” – Nate Diaz
“If you don’t find time to meditate and get all that negative out, and if you don’t have the right people being positive around you, this is a very scary job to have if you don’t learn how to control your fear.” – Nate Diaz
“Me calling out Roy Jones is disrespectful.” – Nate Diaz
“I can always do five, five-minute rounds, any day, even if I was drinking yesterday or doing whatever. I’m a seasoned athlete, an endurance athlete, and I’m always working out.” – Nate Diaz
“I’m scared of any fighter I’ve ever fought because they are some dangerous people to be dealing with. That’s also where the anxiety comes from.” – Nate Diaz
“There was a rumor I was walking around at 183 pounds. When I left my room to fight Conor McGregor, I was 179 pounds. That means by the time I walked in the cage, I was probably 175, 174 pounds.” – Nate Diaz
“I walk around – people know who I am. I’ve got friends. I can make ends meet. I grew up around people who have been hustling from the start, so I think I’ve got a bright little future ahead of me – especially if I don’t fight. Why would I want to go out there and fight with somebody, get my face punched and kicked. It’s not my idea of a good time.” – Nate Diaz
“I try to cancel out every possibility of losing the fight, and this runs through my head all day long. I’m seeing myself become smashed in the face, cut, or being submitted or being knocked out in so many different ways all day long.” – Nate Diaz
“Every fight, I’m fighting blind opponents. I don’t know who it’s going to be, who I’m fighting, if I’m really fighting them.” – Nate Diaz
“If I had been thinking business since I was 21, I’d be a rich man right now.” – Nate Diaz
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