Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
The Toughest Out
Apr 13, 2011
Nick
Diaz might be the toughest man in MMA. | Sherdog.com
Nick Diaz affirmed his position not only as one of MMA’s top welterweights on April 9, but also as one of the toughest outs in the sport.
Floored twice by thunder-fisted challenger Paul Daley, Strikeforce’s 170-pound ace battled back from the brink of consciousness to unleash his trademark body shots to the gut of “Semtex.” When follow-up punches put Daley face-down on the canvas, Diaz poured on the punishment, forcing a stoppage with only three seconds remaining in the opening round.
Far from the 23-year-old kid who departed the UFC in 2006, the only question now is: how long before Zuffa brings Diaz back into the Octagon? Much could depend on how quickly Diaz can clean out the rest of Strikeforce’s welterweight ranks, and how teammate Jake Shields fares in his April 30 title bout against Georges St. Pierre.
Meanwhile, another of Diaz’s Cesar Gracie brethren, lightweight Gilbert Melendez, notched his own statement win in Strikeforce’s April 9 co-main event. Facing Japanese standout Tatsuya Kawajiri in a rematch of a 2006 Pride bout which Melendez won by decision, “El Nino” displayed both brutality and efficiency, using newly legal elbows to knock the “Crusher” senseless inside the first frame. With few challenges left inside Strikeforce and Melendez claiming to be the world’s top 155-pounder, calls will only intensify for the Skrap Pack leader to transition to the UFC.
Continue Reading » MMA Heavyweight Rankings
