The same man that was the first to finish Jim Miller, just didn’t look like himself against champion Ben Henderson. Or did he? Diaz always comes forward and has always had trouble with bigger grapplers/wrestlers. All Diaz’s losses in the UFC are to guys with strong wrestling backgrounds: Clay Guida, Joe Stevenson, Gray Maynard, Dong Hyun Kim (170), Rory MacDonald (170) and now Ben Henderson.
Nate Diaz is still a top contender in my opinion and we all know he isn’t going anywhere. The problem I see with that is, unless Diaz tries harder to defend take-downs instead of just relying on his ground game (that doesn’t always work), he is going to be out wrestled and out powered by his future lightweight competition.
The fight that makes the most sense for Diaz next is a rematch between him and Gray Maynard. I just see Maynard being too powerful and winning another decision. Then, we all know that Diaz’s training partner and current Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is coming to the UFC’s lightweight division and we all should expect him to challenge for the title. If Gilbert gets by Bendo, Diaz won’t fight him, and even if he wants to he will more than likely have to get by Henderson in a rematch and we all witnessed Bendo’s domination in their last fight.
Diaz still has so much potential, but 170 is no home for him (Rory MacDonald proved that) and 155 is not looking any brighter for the TUF winner and kid out of Stockton. I’m not sure if he can cut down to 145, but his reach and style would fit that division well. But Guida is down there now probably waiting for another chance to fight Diaz as well.
Final Thoughts:
Either way, Diaz is more than likely looking at a rematch with Maynard or a possible Varner/Guillard winner unless the UFC can get a hold of Eddie Alvarez. I see Diaz still being able to beat guys like Lauzon and Cerrone, but think that the wrestler group will always be his downfall.
Watch Cesar Gracie talk Nate loss, Nick-GSP fight.
Video courtesy of mmafighting.com