UFC 183 fighter too late to appear with Silva at event
It wouldn’t be a major Nick Diaz fight without drama and mystery.
The enigmatic Californian is scheduled to make his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in a middleweight main event against former champion Anderson Silva at UFC 183 on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden.
Diaz and Silva were scheduled for a public workout to promote the event on the resort’s casino floor Wednesday, but shortly before Diaz’s slotted 1 p.m. appearance, it became clear he wasn’t going to make it.
In fact, Diaz never boarded his plane from Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday night. He originally had been scheduled to fly to Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon, but his camp requested to be rebooked for later in the day.
The extra time didn’t matter.
“We had staff that saw him yesterday in the airport, and he elected to not get on the flight,” UFC vice president of public relations Dave Sholler said Wednesday in confirming Diaz would not appear at the event. “His bags did arrive (in Las Vegas). Again, I can’t speak to why Nick decided not to get on the flight, but we’re moving on as if the fight is happening Saturday. We’re very confident he’s going to be here (later Wednesday).”
The confidence proved warranted later in the afternoon when pictures of Diaz’s arrival at McCarran International Airport appeared on social media.
In a text message to the Review-Journal, UFC president Dana White indicated he fully expected Diaz to be ready when it truly matters.
“He always shows up to fight,” White said.
Diaz doesn’t always show up to promote fights, however. He was famously pulled from a title bout against Georges St. Pierre in 2011 when he didn’t show up in Las Vegas for a news conference.
He also has skipped previous fight-week open workouts, including before his last fight in March 2013, a title bout against St. Pierre in Montreal.
White, who was in Phoenix on Wednesday, appeared on Jim Rome’s radio show and lamented putting Diaz in another main event.
“The problem is this, it’s too late,” White said. “I already made the fight. There’s a lot of things (Diaz) doesn’t show up for, but he always shows up for the fights, so I’m counting on him showing up.
“I did it to myself again. I made a fight with Nick Diaz, a big main event fight. I did it to myself. So I can’t sit here and cry about Nick Diaz. It’s Nick being Nick.”
Diaz, 31, announced his retirement after losing to St. Pierre. He often has voiced his displeasure with many aspects of the sport, though his arguments are at times duplicitous.
The former Strikeforce champion has said the UFC and the media have failed to promote him properly, yet he has a propensity to skip scheduled appearances. Diaz also has criticized the UFC’s pay structure. More famously, he has had run-ins with the Nevada Athletic Commission over judging and his admitted habitual use of marijuana.
Yet Diaz remains a fan favorite, largely because of his anti-establishment attitude and exciting fighting style.
Silva, who worked out hard for almost an hour Wednesday, said he did not feel disrespected for having to carry the promotional load in Diaz’s absence. He said he was just disappointed for the fans who didn’t get to see his opponent.
Silva’s manager said what Diaz does has no impact on Silva.
“It doesn’t bother us at all,” Ed Soares said. “Nick does his thing. This is no surprise. Nick may have not shown up for the open workout and some other media requirements, but at the end of the day, Nick Diaz always shows up to fight, and that’s what’s important. That’s what’s going to matter. When the lights go on Saturday night, Nick Diaz will be there, and I know he’ll be prepared to fight.
“The fans are the ones missing out. It doesn’t bother Anderson. He doesn’t even think about it. He’s not concerned about what Nick’s doing or not doing.”
There was no indication from White about any penalty for Diaz. Sholler said White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta would meet later Wednesday to discuss the issue.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.
