Diaz Announces Retirement After UFC 143 Loss to Condit
Nick
Diaz is done, apparently.
The former Strikeforce welterweight champion announced his retirement on Saturday night immediately following a contentious unanimous decision defeat to Carlos Condit in the main event of UFC 143 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
“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 those either,”
Diaz told
UFC commentator Joe Rogan after the fight. “Carlos is a great
guy. I’m happy for him and his family, but I think I’m done with
this MMA. It’s been great out here. I’ve had a good career. You
guys pay me way too much, but I don’t think I’m going to get enough
to keep going in this. It’s been a good time.”
Diaz attempted to apply his trademark pressure for much of the bout, but Condit proved slippery in his standup technique, throwing a variety of punches and kicks and then spinning away from the cage to prevent the Californian from unloading with his vaunted volume punching. Nonetheless, Diaz was the man moving forward for nearly the entirety of the bout.
“I don’t need this s---, you know? I pushed this guy backwards the whole time. He ran from me this whole fight,” said Diaz. “I landed the harder shots. He kicked me in my leg with little baby leg kicks the whole fight. If that’s the way [the judges] understand that you win in here, I don’t want to play this game no more.”
The Cesar Gracie disciple managed to grab a hold of Condit in the final frame, taking the former WEC champion’s back and threatening with both a rear-naked choke and an armbar. To Condit’s credit, however, the Arizonan defended both submission attempts to hear the final bell. When the dust settled, the judges’ scores read 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46 for Condit, making “The Natural Born Killer” the new UFC interim welterweight champion.
“It ain’t right. I pushed him back the whole fight. I walked him down,” said Diaz. “I got the takedown. I’m the guy who won on top. If I thought I wasn’t ahead, I bet you anything I would have finished that arm lock.”
Though Rogan expressed hope that Diaz might reconsider his decision, the fighter appeared resolute in his choice to hang up his gloves following the loss.
“I’m good,” Diaz said. “I’ll help out my team and my brother and everybody else, but I’m out of this s---.”
The former Strikeforce welterweight champion announced his retirement on Saturday night immediately following a contentious unanimous decision defeat to Carlos Condit in the main event of UFC 143 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
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Diaz attempted to apply his trademark pressure for much of the bout, but Condit proved slippery in his standup technique, throwing a variety of punches and kicks and then spinning away from the cage to prevent the Californian from unloading with his vaunted volume punching. Nonetheless, Diaz was the man moving forward for nearly the entirety of the bout.
“I don’t need this s---, you know? I pushed this guy backwards the whole time. He ran from me this whole fight,” said Diaz. “I landed the harder shots. He kicked me in my leg with little baby leg kicks the whole fight. If that’s the way [the judges] understand that you win in here, I don’t want to play this game no more.”
The Cesar Gracie disciple managed to grab a hold of Condit in the final frame, taking the former WEC champion’s back and threatening with both a rear-naked choke and an armbar. To Condit’s credit, however, the Arizonan defended both submission attempts to hear the final bell. When the dust settled, the judges’ scores read 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46 for Condit, making “The Natural Born Killer” the new UFC interim welterweight champion.
“It ain’t right. I pushed him back the whole fight. I walked him down,” said Diaz. “I got the takedown. I’m the guy who won on top. If I thought I wasn’t ahead, I bet you anything I would have finished that arm lock.”
Though Rogan expressed hope that Diaz might reconsider his decision, the fighter appeared resolute in his choice to hang up his gloves following the loss.
“I’m good,” Diaz said. “I’ll help out my team and my brother and everybody else, but I’m out of this s---.”
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