Diaz coach: Something fishy/shady going on

Nate Diaz’s boxing coach Ricardo Perez appeared recently on the ever tremendous Submission Radio, and talked about the fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 196 on March 5. 

On what Richard did when he heard the news that Diaz has a huge fight in 10 days

I just get focused and he gets focused and we just start training. I mean, he’s been training anyway. So even though it’s a ten-day notice, or two weeks or whatever it is, he’s been training. So we just pick it up a little higher in the notch.

Oh he’s always training. Nathan, he’s always training. So he’ll come to the gym and he’ll work on boxing, he’ll go do Jiu Jitsu. You know, he’ll run but not steadily, because I mean, he does more Jiu Jitsu steadily than running and anything else. And then when it comes to boxing, he gets serious.

What weight Nate Diaz is currently sitting on

He’s right there, 171-170 (pounds).

If it was possible for Nate to make 155

Oh yeah. I mean, knowing Nathan, yeah, yeah. But I like it better now that he’s more comfortable – for me anyway – but for him, yeah he would have done it.

If Nate will struggle like Chad Mendes, taking the McGregor fight on such short notice

He was trying to cut the weight [Chad Mendes]. See that’s the big difference. I mean sure, two weeks’ notice is pretty short, but I mean as far as the weight too, that helps a lot. You know, it makes a big difference, believe me. Because when you’re cutting weight, you’re fighting yourself already. In two weeks, it’s a loss. You have to really struggle. But when you’re not, then you’re fine. He’s still got two weeks. He’s gonna focus on it, you know, and we’ll see what happens when he gets in the ring and see how good it is. But we just gotta focus on that, and we’re not stressed out on it. You just do it.

On if Conor McGregor’s trash talk had any effect on Diaz after the press conference

Oh he loves it. It just builds Nathan up. It just pumps him up more.

If Richard Perez agrees with Nate Diaz’s comments about everyone in the UFC being on steroids, including Conor McGregor

Oh I sure do believe that, heck yeah. Some guys, they get busted – and to be honest with you, I know McGregor has got to be on some kind of steroids, he’s pretty big. And then all of a sudden [he ’s] jumping to 170? Yeah there’s no way, cause I mean, he was supposed to be fighting at 155. So if you think about it, he was focusing on training at 155. He only had two weeks to go. And all of a sudden he’s gonna jump to 170? So no, there’s something going on. But still, I mean, we’re still gonna fight and that’s all there is to it.

If there’s anything else that makes Richard think Conor McGregor is on steroids

Well you know, when Nathan mentioned it to him he got defensive, he got angry. If somebody would have told me that I was fighting and he told me, you know, steroids, I would laugh and say, ‘yeah give me some more steroids, heck yeah, ah ha sure’. But he got defensive and mad, you know, ‘I’m not on steroids, I’m not on steroids.’ You know, he was like trying to defend himself. So that, just his actions and the way he talked is…there’s something behind that.

If McGregor’s recent size gains are simply from not having to make 145, as opposed to steroids

Well, all I know is that he was supposed to fight at 155, and for some reason I don’t think he would have made the weight, because he was trying to go to 165 and then he went to 170. So think about it. If you see that, you would think he had two more weeks to go, he would be close to 155 and stay on that, you know, or go to 160. But he didn’t, he jumped to 170. So that’s kinda shady right there.

On McGregor requesting to fight at 170 because he couldn’t make the weight and not because of Nate Diaz

Right, that’s what I’m saying, that McGregor couldn’t make the weight. Because he would have said ‘okay, let’s go to 160 or let’s go to 155,’ because Nathan was ready for it. And he didn’t [accept]. So then he jumped to 170. Why? I mean, two weeks ago – and you know, if you’re a fighter and you’ve been training for two months or so and you’re already cutting your weight down, so in two weeks you should be close to 155. But he’s at least five pounds over, you know. No. So all of a sudden 155 to 170? Oh boy, that’s a big jump. So there’s something fishy going on there.

On Diaz’s striking advantage over McGregor

Well the thing is, [in] the striking department, Nate is a lot better when he’s in good shape and not injured or anything. So when it comes to the night of the fight, McGregor’s going to be shocked.

If McGregor is the most dangerous striker Nate has ever faced

McGregor is a good striker. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he’s not, but Nathan’s better. I mean, when Nathan’s on his gameplan he’ll make him look silly.

On if Richard is worried about Nate failing and marijuana drug tests leading into this fight

Nah, I’m not worried about it.

I mean, I don’t get into personal business, so I don’t know if he was doing it or not, but he doesn’t seem like he’s worried about it. You know, he’s training like he’s going to fight. So I mean, if it did, then he would say something. But he didn’t say anything to me.