Diaz tests positive following UFC 143

Bleck to getting banned for this.

I have to say in all honesty, if he does retire following this, It's not that bad a way to go out.

I know some people jumped on board the Diaz train at some point over the last few years, but the vast majority of the MMA world was genuinely shocked at what he was able to accomplish is this most recent run he has had (whether they want to admit it or not). He made it almost to the top of the sport, and instead of gradually diminishing and fading away, he decided to hang em up. Not because he's getting old or because he has nothing left to accomplish, but because he doesn't like what has happened to the sport and doesn't want to be a part of it anymore.

There's something kind of enigmatic about that, IMO. I can see people still talking about Diaz 15-20 years from now and saying "Remember that guy? He was a real fighter!"

The fact that he got to where he did while being a marijuana user (and being subsequently suspended for it) is kind of a footnote of his attitude toward the sport, IMO, along with the press-conference stuff.

I can see that...kind of a real "bad boy" of MMA...makes Tito's bad boy image look like a presidential candidate running around handing out lolipops and kissing babies in comparison to Diaz.

^^



The funny thing is, I don't even think Diaz does it on purpose like some other "bad boy" types have done.

Let's be honest, he's been fighting cans. Thomas Denny?? So IMO the sport has passed him by because he wants to puff the magic dragon instead of change camps to perhaps learn something new or get away from something old. Kinda like BJ. Unless he changes camps, he's maxed out what he can do in the circumstances he's in. I don't think he wants to change camps, he seems comfortable where he is and that is the #1 enemy of growth. I think he knows that if he can't beat Condit then there's no way he'll beat GSP. At least, not with Cesar Gracie. But... his drive for the gold isn't quite strong enough to push him out of his comfort zone, so he's at a stalemate and is ready to do other things. Fair enough. I'm not gonna miss him lol, but I won't deny that he made an impact while he was here.

Yeah, he's probably at his peak now. But his peak is much higher than anyone could've predicted it would be. As big a fan as I am, if you had told me 5 years ago that Diaz would be fighting for UFC gold in 5 years, I wouldn't have agreed with you.

I really hope he comes back. But if he leaves now, It's probably safe to say that there won't ever be a better time.