Nick Diaz critical of unified rules, not a fan of elbows

Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz has been a critic of the new change.

I like it because it just reminds me of the way the Pride rules used to be because that’s the way mixed martial arts should be because it favors mixed martial artists and the more technical grappler and the more technical stand up fighter, said Diaz about Strikeforce’s old rules.

It’s in favor of everybody except for maybe the wrestler or a stronger guy who is going to hold control.

The elbows just kind of help it so that they’re not going to stand the fight up. Because if the guy is holding you, then they’re like, ‘okay, let’s see some action,’ so the guy doesn’t let go, he just throws those short elbows. I think it’s boring. That’s the only reason why I have criticism towards the whole thing, he said.

It’s cutting me up and I’m not getting paid as much as boxers are, and they’re not getting cut as much as me now because I’m being elbowed by a less technical fighter, said the welterweight champion.

read entire article…