Relaxed Nick Diaz soaks up atmosphere at UFC 137

RELAXED NICK DIAZ SOAKS UP ATMOSPHERE AT UFC 137

From Las Vegas:

Perhaps holding the main news conference for UFC 137 on the scaled model of the Brooklyn Bridge on Las Vegas Boulevard was a hint to New York that the UFC is moving on one of the last States in the US not to have sanctioned the sport.

It was a breezy affair – open air – with a few hundred fans crammed against the railings. First things first. Nick Diaz, main event fighter, and welterweight title contender, was there. Not only that. Asked by The Telegraph if he’d been held under lock and key last night, Diaz went with the blow, laughing as he revealed he had been escorted to the news conference an hour early by UFC officials.

For those who have been living under rocks for the last few months, Diaz failed to show at two major news conferences and was removed from a title shot against GSP. The Canadian has since suffered an injury, and Diaz was re-scheduled to fight BJ Penn in the main event.

Diaz admitted that it was “yes, the most important fight of my career”. The Californian admitted that UFC officials had “brought him down an hour early” to the news conference. There was plenty of banter all around. Diaz was relaxed, and it was good to see.

“People tended to see me as someone who does not want to talk to the media. I’m fine with that. What bothers me is when some random dude from a B grade website comes down and films me training. I’m happy to talk to anybody. I;m just here to do my job.”

BJ Penn, relishing this contest, and being a main event again, explained: “We are both in a must win position. I love to do this love MMA, want to continue doing this, love fighting in the UFC, and of course Nick wants to prove he has come to stay in the UFC.”

Dana White, UFC President, explained: “The best always go up against the best in this sport and it’s almost three years undefeated for Nick. These two guys have great similarities. They are both crazy; both warriors.

On the dais Roy Nelson was sporting a snappy suit to go with his Grizzly Adams – or was it Willie Nelson – look. Mirko Cro Cop revealed it may be his last contest in the UFC, and Matt Mitrione showed his normal flair for humour. Check Kongo barely said a word. It has the feel of heading towards a special event on Saturday night. It is sold out.

“If we had been a boxing event and we have lost the main fight, we would have had to scrap the event. We have not had a single request for a ticket to be returned,” explained White.

JON ANIK, ESPN MMA LIVE ANCHOR JOINS UFC AS PRESENTER AND COMMENTATOR

It was also announced at the news conference that Jon Anik, well known in the MMA world for his excellent anchorage of ground breaking show MMA Live on ESPN, joins the UFC as a play by play commentator on the FX shows from January. Anik will also anchor a newly-revamped version of The Ultimate Fighter, and present a weekly show for the fight organization.

“It was a great opportunity and it is the only place I would have left ESPN for. The sport is on the up and up and it will be great to be a part of it.”

UFC President Dana White joked: “We needed extra talent for the roles Jon will take on. Our schedule over the next few years is going to be so busy let me tell you now, Jon’s going to wonder whether he should be back at ESPN.”