Fourteen years have passed since Nick Diaz felt he was denied his shot at the UFC title.
The Stockton native has long been a favourite among fans, not just in the UFC but across the whole MMA landscape.
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He built a loyal following over the years, delivering plenty of memorable moments along the way. One highlight was capturing the first-ever Strikeforce welterweight title, an achievement that still stands out in his career.
But there’s one thing missing from his time in combat sports: a UFC title. The 42-year-old came close on two occasions but never managed to claim gold inside the Octagon.
He had another shot at gold before that loss to Georges St-Pierre. Diaz faced Carlos Condit for an interim belt earlier in his career, giving him two cracks at a UFC title overall.
Nick Diaz considered walking away from MMA after Carlos Condit defeat at UFC 143
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
On this day in 2012, UFC 143 took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Headlining the event was Diaz’s title bout with Carlos Condit. The card also featured wins for Fabricio Werdum, Josh Koscheck, and Renan Barao, while Dustin Poirier handed Max Holloway a tough debut loss by submitting him with a triangle armbar.
Condit won their fight via unanimous decision, but Diaz made it clear he didn’t agree with how the judges saw it.
The decision frustrated Diaz so much that he not only refused to accept the result but also announced his intention to step away from MMA.
“I’m not going to accept the fact that this was a loss,” Diaz said while speaking to Joe Rogan post-fight.
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“I’ve lost fights like this before, and I’m not going to accept those either. Carlos is a great guy. I’m happy for him and his family, but I think I’m done with this MMA.
“It’s been great out here. I’ve had a good career. You guys pay me way too much, but I don’t think I’m going to get enough to keep going in this. It’s been a good time,” he added.
“I pushed this guy backwards. He ran from me the whole fight… I landed the harder shots. He ran the whole time. He kicked me in the leg with little baby leg kicks the whole fight.
“That’s the way they understand to win in here. I don’t want to play this game no more.”
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Nick Diaz still chasing UFC Title 14 years after loss to Carlos Condit
A lot has happened involving Diaz in the years since his controversial loss to Condit. In terms of his MMA career, not much of it has been good.
Following a positive marijuana test after his fight with Anderson Silva in 2015, Diaz stayed out of competition for six years.
His return came against Robbie Lawler at UFC 266, where he was stopped by TKO. The defeat led many to question whether he should continue fighting.
Diaz had a tough time getting back into the Octagon in 2024. Several cancelled fights were followed by a stint in a Mexican rehab facility, from which he only recently emerged.
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But despite all that’s happened, Diaz hasn’t given up on his dream of becoming a UFC champion.
“I see myself becoming world champion,” he said during an interview with Baja Rehab. “I see myself becoming world champion, and I think it’s easy money.”
“It’s not like before,” he added. “People are going to see a brand new me.”
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