Nick Diaz Ready For DREAM Championship

T-Bone · 05-13-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Following a week-long roller coaster ride, UFC and Pride veteran Nick Diaz finally made his way to Japan late last week to compete under the Dream banner.

He had been scheduled to fight on the promotion’s April 29 event, but his proposed opponent, Marcello Garcia, declined the fight. Dream promptly rescheduled Diaz for its May 11 event against former welterweight King of Pancrase Katsuya Inoue.

The problem arose when officials at ProElite, whom Diaz has a contract with, determined that the May 11 date was too close to its June 14 event where Diaz was also scheduled to compete. They pulled him from the fight.

As the deadline for the event neared, there was a change of heart within the ProElite organization and Diaz was finally granted permission to fight. He arrived in Japan just two days prior to the fight, but he made weight, made his to the arena, and made his way into Dream’s first welterweight championship bout.

“It took a long time for this fight to be set, and so I had a problem losing weight and that affected my performance,” said Diaz after the fight. “But I'm happy to win, and if they told me I had to get to (lightweight), I would do it.”

Diaz battered Inoue with his relentless striking game, finishing him off when Inoue’s corner had seen enough punishment dished out to the fighter and threw in the towel.

The bout was a welterweight title eliminator, so Diaz now moves on to the championship bout to face popular Japanese fighter Hayato “Mach” Sakurai. Despite any difficulties that he had to overcome, he is happy to move on.

“I am looking forward to my next fight against Sakurai for the welterweight championship!" expressed an elated Diaz.

The bout is expected to take place on July 21 at DREAM.5 in Osaka, Japan.

- NICK DIAZ READY FOR DREAM CHAMPIONSHIP - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more

MTKrav911 · 05-13-2008, 08:51 PM

I'm glad to see Nick in contention.

I hope and think he'll be ready by July 21st and hope he comes in as the mad-fighter we know he can be.

I really like too that no matter what, Nate Diaz is at his side unless Nate is fighting somewhere else. He was in Japan too alongside Diaz this weekend. I mean Nate must have an insane training schedule as TUF champ, coming off a great comeback win trying to stay tip top, yet Nate still finds time for his brothers career. Even if it means travelling overseas.

With Robbie Lawler (who's also had personal problems in his career), on the rise in Elite as champ, and now Diaz likely a true contender to the new DREAM WW champ?

God, it's good to see MMA grow so much that all these great fighters have a place to go.

Not just the UFC.