Joe Rogan: 'I Like Nick Diaz as Nick Diaz'

Dana White told MMA Fighting earlier this month that Nick Diaz "could be a big star if he would just calm down a little bit and not be so angry with everybody."

But UFC color analyst Joe Rogan said on Monday's episode of The MMA Hour that he likes Nick Diaz just the way he is.

"I like Nick Diaz as Nick Diaz. I don't think he has to do anything different," Rogan said.

"I think what Nick Diaz needs is big fights. I think what Nick Diaz needs is promotion and big fights. Obviously, I'm biased when it comes to this whole Strikeforce-UFC thing, both under the same umbrella, but what I hope it leads to is super-fights. I want to see Nick Diaz against the very best in the UFC. I would love to see Nick Diaz vs. Josh Koscheck. I would love to see Nick Diaz vs. Georges St-Pierre."

Rogan, who called Nick Diaz one of "the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world" last year, offered glowing praise when discussing Diaz's recent win over Paul Daley.

"I think he's one of the best fighters in the world, I really do. He's one of the most exciting, and that's for sure. Just think about what kind of a champion fights a guy with his own style and takes it to him the way he did to Paul Daley. I mean, he threw caution to the wind and went out there and banged with Paul Daley and took him out with his own style. [It was] an incredible fight.

"I am a huge Georges St-Pierre fan, and I think he is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but I couldn't imagine him employing that kind of a strategy in a championship fight and making it so exciting. Nick Diaz is a wildman. He just goes in there guns blazing, and he doesn't have to. He has an amazing jiu-jitsu background, we saw that in the Cyborg fight, as soon as it went to the ground and he was on his back, he locked up Cyborg in an armbar, and you know, Cyborg is a real experienced veteran. Nick is a phenom. He has improved dramatically."

The last time Diaz fought someone with a solid wrestling background was Sean Sherk in 2006. Coincidentally, or maybe not, he lost the bout via unanimous decision (and Diaz would probably tell you that was the last time he legitimately lost a fight since his fight against KJ Noons one year later ended due to a doctor's stoppage.)

Rogan believes Diaz will only truly be tested when he faces another legitimate wrestler.

"The real issue that Nick is going to have is with wrestlers. He's going to have an issue with guys who hold him down and don't do anything, hold him down and play it really safe and just punch him and hit him with short elbows. I think those guys are going give him trouble always in the UFC. But in Strikeforce, when he's fighting Cyborg, when he's fighting Paul Daley or Scott Smith, those guys, they're not going to do that, they're going to stand with him, and that's when he looks spectacular."

Tyron Woodley, a former collegiate wrestler at the University of Missouri, made a statement at the Diaz vs. Daley fight by wearing a "I Got Next" T-shirt. The undefeated fighter appears to be next in line for Diaz, but with Diaz's sights set on boxing and Woodley's lack of star power, who knows when that fight will actually take place.

"I think he wants a big payday. The problem with Tyron Woodley is, even though he's very good, he's an excellent fighter, the general public has no idea who he is, so [a Diaz vs. Woodley fight is] not going to command a Georges St-Pierre-like purse."

Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/04/21/joe-rogan-i-like-nick-diaz-as-nick-diaz/

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