Paul Daley: Diaz only non-UFC fight that matters
Nick Diaz and Paul Daley in Wednesday’s conference call with reporters to discuss Strikeforce’s April 9 card in San Diego….
Nick Diaz and Paul Daley in Wednesday’s conference call with reporters to discuss Strikeforce’s April 9 card in San Diego.
Diaz and Daley on The Strikeforce Buyout
Question to Nick Diaz: What were your thoughts when you heard about Zuffa purchasing Strikeforce, and what do you think it’s going to mean for you in the near future?
Nick Diaz: I try not to get stressed out over all this part of fighting. I just worry about the fighting part, you know? I think that’s important.
That’s why I’ve got somebody to take care of all that. I’ve got the same people managing me and the same team I’m on since the beginning. I would hate to have to deal with all that stuff that most fighters have to go through.
I spend all my time training in the gym. I focus all my hard work and efforts towards training, getting better, stronger, faster. Technically better at mixed martial arts.
Q to Paul Daley. When that sale went down, you had some comments about this fight, in general, taking this fight, working for Zuffa. What were your thoughts when you first heard about the sale? How long were you considering not fighting? Or was it something that you said that you quickly changed your mind on? How did that all go?
Paul Daley: No, I honestly thought I wasn’t going to take the fight. I was actually a bit hot-headed at the time; I’m that kind of character.
The way I saw it, Strikeforce was the biggest competition to the UFC. And the UFC, and Dana White kicking me out of the UFC, I kind of thrived in knowing I was the rival to the UFC. That’s what was driving me. I was in competition with them directly by being in Strikeforce or by fighting wherever I’m fighting.
I was doing good doing that. … For me, that was sort of proving my worth to the UFC as a fighter. I had some decision wins, I had some knockouts and I had some stoppages, but the most important thing was, people were talking about the fights that I was in. I told Scott Coker that was the main thing.
As a fan of the martial arts and a fan of MMA, I don’t like to see the other way it’s going. The sport’s going to be a monopoly. In 10 years’ time, people are going to be calling MMA the UFC. I think that’s bad.
That’s why I wanted to pull out of the fight. I didn’t want to fight (for) the competition, basically.
But obviously, having spoke to my manager and spoke to the people around me, it’s a big opportunity to become Strikeforce champion and it’s a big fight, regardless of who owns the company. So I decided that I’d take the fight in the end.
Q to Daley: You’ve said in a couple of interviews that you feel like the relationship with you and Dana is personal. Does winning the title, with this new Zuffa purchase, add any extra motivation or give you any extra oomph going into this fight?
PD: I was fully motivated before Zuffa ever thought of purchasing. Like I say, I look up to Nick as a fighter. Being away from the UFC, he’s the only other big name out there; the only other fight that really means something to the fans.
So that was always a fight that I was after, and it was always a motivating factor for me, being away from the UFC and signing with Strikeforce, to get a shot at Nick and getting a title.
Like I said, I’m not too bothered by who owns Strikeforce at the moment. If what I’ve been told by the people in the position of power (is) how it’s going to run, then I’m happy. As long as my contract stays as it is, then I’m happy.
Q to Diaz: We know what Paul’s motivation is heading into this fight. What is your motivation heading into this fight?
Diaz: I don’t have any, really, other than I’d rather be in great shape to train with these guys. My brother’s depending on me; my team’s depending on me; my partner Jake’s depending on me to stay in great shape. Survive this fight, come back in the gym with them, work out the rest of this month for this upcoming fight. We’re a team, we’re going to try to win this whole thing. That’s my motivation as far as mixed martial arts goes.
But as far as upping my status by winning, I don’t feel any — not that I don’t consider beating Paul Daley a great accomplishment — I just think that as far as in the rankings right now, they have me ranked above him.
If they had me going here for a minute, they’d fight me too much, you know what I’m saying? This show got pushed back. I just found out I’m fighting, and he’s talking about he’s not going to take the fight, this and that. That’s not good for anybody, and it’s not motivating.
I feel good about it, though. It’s whatever, you know? I’m a fighter and I’m ready to fight. If it was right now, and I was in a situation (in which) I was having to fight right now, then I would have to fight right now.
I’m not going to be the one to back out of this. I’m the last person that’s going to be the first guy to back out of a fight.
But I’m happy to be fighting, and I’m happy to be with a good team and have a good training.
And the weather’s looking better, so that’s good too.
