Nick Diaz late to UFC 137 conference call, did UFC drop the ball?
Just 10 days out from a pay-per-view event, The Ultimate Fighting Championship will be holding a media conference call to…
Just 10 days out from a pay-per-view event, The Ultimate Fighting Championship will be holding a media conference call to build up next Saturday’s (October 29, 2011) UFC 137: “Penn vs. Diaz” event today, (October 19, 2011) at 2 p.m. ET.
Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.
2:08 p.m.: No Nick Diaz, but the other three fighters are present.
Sorry folks, I can barely understand a word B.J. Penn is saying.
B.J. Penn: I’m a fan of Nick Diaz. I was a fan of Nick Diaz before he was in the UFC. I know Nick personally, I know Nate Diaz. Whatever they do, they’re themselves. It’s no problem. The only thing that bothers me is when Nick Diaz punches me in the nose in the Octagon.
B.J. Penn: for me it’s always been a love/hate relationship with mixed martial arts and the UFC at times. You never know when you can get a title shot or that title. Look at Carlos Condit. You never know. I’d love to stick around as long as Randy stuck around. One day I want to fight 100 fights and the next day I don’t want to fight anymore. I think a lot of other fighters feel the same way I’m just more vocal about it.
Update: It appears that maybe the UFC staff may be to blame on Nick Diaz missing the UFC 137 press conference call, per UFC President Dana White:
I’m hearing UFC dropped the ball on the Nick Diaz no show today!! SUCKS
Update 2:45 p.m.: Nick Diaz is on the line
Nick Diaz: I didn’t even know about a call. I woke up, my phone was dead and my brother told me that I was supposed to be on the call. I didn’t get any notice. I didn’t hear anything about it until about fifteen minutes ago.
