Cesar Gracie: Nate Will Fight Anybody – He’s Fought Everybody

Cat--Smasher · 05-24-2012, 06:12 PM

Quote:

“I think Nate Diaz is the future of the 155lbs division. In the past there were issues, there strength issues, there were power issues. The skills have been there with a guy like Nate Diaz. He’s actually gotten better with his skills but as he has grown. He’s a tall kid. Kind of lanky if you will sometimes what happens with guys like that is it takes them a little bit longer to get the strength into their bones because of their length and everything. And now what’s happening is he’s grown into that. He’s got the strength, he’s got the mentality.

I told him the last fight ‘This is your world now. People have a time and this is your time. You got to make things happen now. You got to go out and beat these guys.’ The confidence is there. He understands he’s a veteran. He’s been there long enough and he understands he should be beating these guys.

He fought a very tough guy, a guy I personally like – Jim Miller. He definitely got the better of him on the ground -obviously, he submitted him, standing up and in all categories Nate Diaz looked like the better fighter that night. I agree with you Jens – he’s grown into his own man. He’s looking great. I’m very impressed with him

Jens Pulver: Now that’s there’s a rematch coming between Ben Henderson and Frankie Edgar, what do you do with Nate Diaz? Do you advise him to sit? Obviously, Dana said that’s something he might do – sit and wait for his title shot or what you say? Obviously you’re his manager, his coach and his mentor. What kind of advice do you give Nathan?

Quote:

Cesar Gracie:

“Nate will fight anybody. He’s fought everybody. They throw people at him and he’s 155/170. The guy is a fighter’s fighter at this point though it’s time to start to think about your legacy a little bit. I kind of agree with Dana. I think he should fight for the title.

He beat Gomi he looked great but people were like ok great admittedly he was not the Gomi we saw years ago. He’s still very dangerous we saw him ko Tyson Griffith and everybody but his not top 10 guy. Nate looked great beating him anyway. He beat Cerrone. Cerrone was in line for a title shot by the way. He was supposed to beat Nate Diaz and get that title shot. Guess what? Cerrone got beat by Nate Diaz obviously he takes that spot but they wanted to see him fight someone else. We petitioned for the Pettis fight but Joe Silva said Miller will get you to the title quicker. Nate like a soldier went out, took the fight and did what he does. He’s just going to be a couple months sidelined. We’re waiting for the winner of Henderson vs Frankie Edgar.”

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IrishX(aka bornbear) · 05-24-2012, 06:30 PM

I'd like to see a rematch between Nate and Cerrone.

MIZjitsZOU · 05-24-2012, 07:10 PM

I would like to see nate vs pettis. That would be a bad ass fight.

I wouldn't be mad if he waited for his title shot.

hurt80 · 05-24-2012, 07:19 PM

nate has earned it, i'd wait for the shot too. could be a one time thing,you never know a loss or two(especially at 155) could knock you way down the ladder.

SimpleJack · 05-24-2012, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrishX(aka bornbear)

I'd like to see a rematch between Nate and Cerrone.

Did you see ANYTHING in the first fight that indicated it would go any other way?

MickeyKnox · 05-24-2012, 10:56 PM

I wish BJ would come back to LW and fight Nate.

Fedorlei Gomipierre · 05-24-2012, 11:05 PM

Remember the time Anthony Pettis was going to do a title unification fight against the UFC LW champion? Then came Clay Guida. IMO, make hay while the sun shines and if the title shot is in your pocket....TAKE IT!

Nate beat two of the toughest LWs in Cerrone and Miller with relative ease and has earned the chance to wait for a shot. There's no big time fight for him out there that'll really prove anything that we haven't already seen to justify his title shot. Penn hasn't fought in a longtime, Anthony Pettis looks to be on a crash course with Cerrone in Colorado and everybody else is booked, I think Nate's in the catbird position.

IrishX(aka bornbear) · 05-25-2012, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpleJack

Did you see ANYTHING in the first fight that indicated it would go any other way?

Yes, Simple Jack, I did.

I didn't see Diaz destroy Cerrone. I saw a guy win a good fight by decision. We did not see the best Cerrone has to offer and that night he clearly let pride get in the way and fell into Diaz's gameplan and forgot about his own. Maybe if Cerrone went to those leg kicks that knocked Diaz down over and over again earlier, the fight might have gone differently.

It's not as if Cerrone wasn't on the cusp of getting a UFC title shot himself. He is a very skilled fighter who had an off night.... it happens.

Cat--Smasher · 05-25-2012, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrishX(aka bornbear)

Yes, Simple Jack, I did.

I didn't see Diaz destroy Cerrone. I saw a guy win a good fight by decision. We did not see the best Cerrone has to offer and that night he clearly let pride get in the way and fell into Diaz's gameplan and forgot about his own. Maybe if Cerrone went to those leg kicks that knocked Diaz down over and over again earlier, the fight might have gone differently.

It's not as if Cerrone wasn't on the cusp of getting a UFC title shot himself. He is a very skilled fighter who had an off night.... it happens.

Did not Nate set the record for most significant strikes in a fight? Nate landed over 250 stikes on Cerrone. I would say he whooped that ass.

And since Diaz destroyed Miller and Cerrone took Stephens to a decision.

Cerrone has not earned a rematch with Diaz yet.