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Is it Time for UFC to Dump Diaz

4K views 54 replies 30 participants last post by  Purgetheweak 
#1 ·
With a 1 for 3 record since returning to the UFC and a 7 for 13 lifeimte UFC record (just above .500) is it not time to give Nick Diaz the pink slip? Fight record aside, he has also demonstrated that he is not able to keep up his job obligations and his pressers are nothing short of a reckless onslaught of verbal diarrhea, saying one thing one minute and the complete opposite the next.

Come on Dana, it's time to rid your organization of this virus.
 
#40 ·
Diaz isn't even that much of a draw if PPV payouts are any indication.

If Nick only drew 280K fighting with BJ, that's hardly an indication of any great drawing power.

And if someone attempts to claim the 800K for GSP vs Diaz proves that Diaz is a draw, then they need to explain how Diaz is more of a draw than Hardy and Shields who did similar numbers fighting GSP.

Given that Diaz vs Condit drew 400K (maybe average, but on the lower side of the average for PPVs) seems to me the indications are that Diaz is not the 'deciding factor' when it comes to UFC PPVs pay outs.


So, to recap: Diaz is a pain in the butt, unreliable, unstable, unsportsmanlike in and out of the ring, doesn't really draw all that great, is a perpetual whiner, and unless you're a fan of robot-fight-league style fights (walking forward swinging your arms not caring if you take shots) then he's not a very exciting technical fighter (yeah, I know he has sick GJJ skills, he just doesn't make use of them much in his fights) .. the the 'just bleed' fans he's probably exciting, but the numbers don't seem to suggest that 'just bleed' draws more fans than those who like to watch 'excellence of execution'.

So, given all that I don't see Dana, who probably looks at the numbers as much as anyone, being all the worried about whether Diaz statys or goes ... I'm guessing he probably leans more to the "I kinda hope he leaves before I have to make the decision for him" side.

Personally I think the only reason he gets played as being so 'popular' is that the media likes him because he doesn't give standard answers to their questions. The media wants him to stay more than MMA fans do.


Since UFC 100
PPVs 300K and less:

01/02/2010 UFC 108 Evans vs. Silva 300,000
02/06/2010 UFC 109 Couture vs. Coleman 275,000
02/21/2010 UFC 110 Nogueria v. Velasquez 240,000
04/24/2010 WEC 48 Aldo vs. Faber 175,000
01/01/2011 UFC 125 Edgar vs. Maynard II 260,000
02/27/2011 UFC 127 Penn vs. Fitch 260,000
10/08/2011 UFC 136 Edgar vs. Maynard III 225,000
10/29/2011 UFC 137 Penn vs. Diaz 280,000
11/19/2011 UFC 139 Henderson vs. Rua 290,000
01/14/2012 UFC 142 Aldo vs Mendes 215,000
06/23/2012 UFC 147 Silva vs. Franklin II 140,000
07/21/2012 UFC 149 Faber vs. Barao 230,000
08/11/2012 UFC 150 Henderson v. Edgar II 190,000




PPVs 700K and more

07/11/09 UFC 100 Lesnar v. Mir 1,600,000
08/08/09 UFC 101 Penn v. Florian 850,000
03/27/2010 UFC 111 GSP vs. Hardy 770,000
05/29/2010 UFC 114 Evans vs. Jackson 1,000,000
07/03/2010 UFC 116 Lesnar vs. Carwin 1,060,000
10/23/2010 UFC 121 Lesnar vs. Velasquez 900,000
12/11/2010 UFC 124 GSP vs. Koscheck 785,000
02/05/2011 UFC 126 Silva vs. Belfort 725,000
04/30/2011 UFC 129 GSP vs. Shields 800,000
04/21/2012 UFC 145 Jones vs. Evans 700,000
07/07/2012 UFC 148 Silva vs. Sonnen II 925,000
11/17/2012 UFC 154 GSP vs. Condit 700,000
03/16/2013 UFC 158 GSP vs. Diaz 800,000

Source: http://mmapayout.com/blue-book/pay-per-view/
 
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#41 ·
Like I said, Nick's brash behavior appeals to some people and the UFC will keep him. If he continues to sell a fight then the UFC will keep him. Look at Chael Sonnen for instance. Chael is a mediocre fighter who had a failed drug test, lied to CSAC about being approved for TRT, and was convicted for money laundering. But the man knows how to sell a fight and because of that he was able to get two title shots (one of them being in a weight division he never fought in) and became a coach on the ultimate fighter.
 
#44 ·
This post contains great points right now, but lets see what happens to Sonnen's draw if Jones do the expected and demolishes him in the upcoming event.

It's hard to see Sonnen selling fights at 205 after all the undeserved chances he got, as you mentioned, if Jones wipes the floor with him. Maybe he'll straight away retire into commenting. I can see that coming.
 
#42 ·
Sonnen actually draws, Diaz doesn't.


Silva vs Sonnen I drew 600K

The next two Silva headline fights drew 250K and 140K

Silva vs Sonnen II drew 925K

If you look at my previous post in this thread you will see that Diaz is hardly a factor in PPV draws.

The media hypes up the 'bad boy' aspect of Diaz, but that doesn't translate into viewer draw. It gives MAA geeks something to talk about, but that's about all it does other than to give the MMA journalists something to write about.
 
#43 ·
Diaz isn't an elite seller like GSP, Lesnar, Sonnen, Anderson, or HWs. But he is a decent draw.

Him and Condit did 400,000 for 143 and I don't think Condit ever headlined before. Even a free one. UFC 144 a coupel weeks later featured Edgar who beat Penn and had his Maynard fights...and Bendo. Plus Rampage on it. Yet they did 375k.

UFC 140 with Bones vs. Machida 2 top 3 LHWs. With Nog vs. Mir 2 and Tito Ortiz sold 485k.

So no, Diaz isn't some top seller. But for a guy who was not even fully known by casuals 2 years ago. And a guy who has never been UFC champ....he sells pretty damn good. He didn't make all the numbers for the GSP fight....but he helped make it a big number. They drew 600,000 more dollars in gate than GSP-Condit in the same arena.

Yea, Sonnen did sell a lot for the 2nd Silva fight. But large in part because the best MMA fighter had his toughest fight in the uFC by far the first time. Many people tuned in for that....then of course Chael promoted it like the WWE for months which helped. A lot of WWE guys ate it up.

But make no mistake, Diaz sells pretty solid.
 
#45 ·
Diaz sells abut "average", maybe even a little bit less than average, but combine that with all the other issues Diaz brings, and I'd say it would be better for business to get rid of Diaz and bring back Jon Fitch. At least you don't have to wonder if Fitch will show up for an event, or attack someone in a hospital.
 
#47 ·
UFC 136. There were 2 title fights. The 3rd Maynard/Edgar fight....after a great 2nd fight. And Aldo vs. Flroian.

PLUS Sonnen was on the card. A guy you say sells so much!

They sold 225k with 2 title fights and Chael "THE BIG PPV SELLER" Sonnen.

Explain that to me. If Diaz is an average to below average draw...then Frankie is a TERRIBLE draw. And Sonnen didn't help sell that card one bit.
 
#49 ·
The dilemma is that Nick Diaz could make another promotion real money. Were I running the UFC, I'd keep him around for another few fights, milk him for all he's worth, and then go from there. If he starts losing to fighters like Rick Story and Mike Pierce, then it's time to let him go.

I think they'll offer Nick another interesting fight - someone like Maia.
 
#53 ·
I was agreeing with you when I was reading the argument about the record.

But then you went on with the "missing the press conference" part of your argument and it kinda puts your bias in light.

agreed on the record part, the other part should not be an issue. Dana said himself, there are other fighters who are much worse than nick for that PR part of the job
 
#54 ·
I hear what your saying. I get it. Really, the point I was making is that not only is his record below average but he is also not a good employee. And if that puts my "bias in light" then I accomplished what I was trying to do. Make no mistake about it, I don't like Diaz and you can see that in every post I've made about the guy.
 
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