Talking point: Diaz at a crossroads

23 May 2011

Talking point: Diaz at a crossroads

Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz claims he is ready to ditch the Octagon and enter the professional boxing ranks.

But can fighters switch from the cage to the boxing ring that easily?

Diaz: “There’s no more fights for me here….”

Over the past 15 months Strikeforce’s 170-pound champ Nick Diaz has  dominated the division. His most recent victory, over British hopeful Paul “Semtex” Daley, was a real barnstormer. The two sluggers served up five minutes of brutal striking that had the arena on their feet.

A bloodied Diaz emerged victorious and his most dangerous opponent had been dispatched. It’s left him with little incentive to stay with Strikeforce. Glory and bigger paydays lie in boxing and a fight with former IBF champ Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy.

Lacy is known to British fans as the man Joe Calzaghe dominated in 2006 to win the IBF super-middleweight title. Entering the ring with an unbeaten record and a puncher’s reputation, Lacy was outclassed that night.

Since then the American’s career has nosedived. In 2009 he was stopped by Roy Jones Jr, a fortysomething fighter well past his best.

But if Diaz thinks he will be an easy ride, then he‘s wrong. Lacy may no longer be a world-class operator. But the boxing ring is his home. And whilst Diaz might be a force in the Octagon, the skills required to compete between the ropes are entirely different.

Trading places is hard to do

In recent times there have been a few occasions where MMA fighters have taken up boxing and vice versa.

They’ve almost always ended in failure.

The most notable was James “Lights Out” Toney’s shambolic attempt to challenge UFC legend Randy Couture in the cage at UFC 118. Toney, a legendary trash-talker, was scornful of MMA and its reliance on mat grappling. In his eyes, he’d simply knock Couture out before the fight went to the ground.

Universally, MMA commentators thought this incredibly naïve and Couture would teach the boxer a lesson.

They were proved right.

Within 15 seconds, Couture had taken down Toney and three minutes later submitted him via an arm triangle. It was an embarrassment and Toney was duly released from his multi-fight UFC contract.

The difference between punching in boxing and MMA

Toney’s disregard of the striking skills in MMA is typical of many boxers. They see the upright stance and looping punches of an MMA fighter as crude. They’ve honed their own boxing skills on tight guards, crisp punches and lots of upper-body movement such as the “bob and weave”.

In boxing, long, looping punches are predictable and rarely result in knockouts. Many boxers operate best “in the pocket”, nose-to-nose and able to release short, punishing punches to both head and body. Ricky Hatton was a fine exponent of this.

Those tactics are completely redundant in MMA for one reason: takedowns.

If you’re that close to your opponent, then it’s all too easy for them to suddenly switch from striking to grappling and shoot for the legs. Within miliseconds you’ll find yourself on the mat, in a vulnerable position.

That’s why MMA striking must happen at a greater distance. And whilst looping punches may be less effective in boxing, where fighters wear heavy gloves, MMA fighters wear 4oz versions.

This means that every fighter has potential knockout power.

Toney showed the danger of under-estimating what’s required to switch disciplines.

Nick Diaz should heed that warning.

Money, money, money

Of course, the big variable in all of this is UFC supremo Dana White, whose company has just purchased Strikeforce. Notoriously unafraid to speak his mind, White has voiced his disapproval at Diaz’s latest move.

In my opinion, White will dangle a carrot in front of Diaz in the shape of a bout with all-conquering UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre.

Both have big reputations. And In this business, big reputations equal big bucks. It will be too hard for Diaz to ignore.

There’s one thing that boxers and MMA fighters will always agree on…

Money talks.