Referee turned analyst John McCarthy has said that Nick Diaz is a completely different person in real life as opposed to the ‘gangster’ persona he has developed as a fighter.
Diaz returned to the Octagon after a six-year lay-off to rematch Robbie Lawler at UFC 266, where he was finished in the third round. The Stockton native started his career in 2001, gradually gaining a reputation as one of toughest fighters on the planet. His bad-boy persona is one of the major reasons for his popularity, but McCarthy believes that has also created a wrong impression among fans.
‘He’s A Good Guy’
Speaking on his WEIGHIN IN podcast with Josh Thomson (as transcribed by Bloody Elbow), McCarthy said that Diaz is a very different person in real life.
“Nick is as tough as they come. I love the guy, and I think… he’s such a good guy and he’s got a persona that people… the perception of what he is and who he truly is, it’s two different things,” McCarthy said. “And he is a good f***ing guy who will spend time with people and give you the shirt off his back if it’s something that he looks at that’s important.
“He’s not what people perceive him to be, is this thug. He’s not a thug. He’s very intellectual, as far as what he cares about, he is involved with. [If] he cares about it deeply, he will help other people with it. I just think that in some way, there’s that… he can make a lot of money fighting.”
‘I Agree With Dana’
With no news on his next fight, Dana White said that Diaz should no longer be fighting unless he fully focuses on it. McCarthy said that he agrees with the UFC president.
“I think that Dana is correct in that,” McCarthy said. “If you’re not gonna be a hundred percent into doing this, don’t do it.’ I understand what Dana is saying, and I agree with it in the fact that man, we say it all the time. If you’re not a hundred percent in, be a hundred percent out. Because it’s just gonna be painful and ugly and it’s not gonna be good for you.”
Do you agree with John McCarthy and Dana White’s thoughts on Nick Diaz?
See also:
