Nick Diaz should be in the UFC but won't play the 'game' according to White
He's one of the top four fighters for Scott Coker's Strikeforce. It's not often the growing promotion gets a fighter at his peak in his 20's. There's a long story behind why Nick Diaz isn't getting a shot anytime soon at UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre. The 26-year-old from Stockton, California marches to the beat of his own drummer. When asked about Diaz calling out GSP (2:22 mark), UFC president Dana White almost sounded frustrated suggesting his hands were tied because of the fighter's behavior between fights, with the media and away from the cage.
"The kid is very talented. And he probably should be in the UFC. But that kind of stuff has to stop."
Diaz is a tough guy to manage.
"You have to follow certain rules and guidelines," said White. "The last time Nick Diaz was in the UFC he got into a fist fight at the hospital."
The story was that Diaz brawled with Joe Riggs at a Henderson, NV. hospital following their fight at UFC 57. Diaz actually fought three more times going 2-1 with wins over Gleison Tibau and Josh Neer, and a loss to Sean Sherk.
The biggest problem is Diaz's long history of drug testing issues in Nevada and California. White said he has a good relationship with Nick and his brother Nate, who does fight for the UFC. Maybe there's a shot for Nick to return down the road but it doesn't sound like anything that'll happen soon.
