When Diaz and Daley square off in Saturdays main event, there will be more than just the Strikeforce welterweight championship on the line.
Despite being completely different fighters, they do share one thing in common: They have both managed to get themselves fired from the UFC and piss off Dana White in the process.
Fans have cried out to Dana for super fights between champions of each organization. Now that Zuffa owns Strikeforce, it is technically possible.
This puts Dana and the UFC in a sticky situation, after releasing Diaz and publicly stating that Daley will never fight in the UFC again, will Dana and the UFC want to welcome one (or both) of these men back into the octagon?
Nick Diaz (24-7) is the current Strikeforce welterweight champion and on a nine fight win streak. It's because of these accomplishments that many people see Diaz a top five welterweight and a serious contender to GSP's belt.
Now that Zuffa owns Strikeforce we can talk about this match-up or can we? Dana White has stated many times that it's Nicks antics outside of the octagon that's really stopping Nick from becoming a star with the UFC.
Here's what Dana had to say about Nick Diaz:
"I like Nick Diaz very much, and I’ve said this many times, if Nick Diaz would just play the game even this much... but Nick Diaz refuses to play the game. He’s anti-the game...Listen, you have certain rules and guidelines, and last time Nick Diaz was in the UFC he got in a fist fight in the hospital with the guy that he fought here [Joe Riggs]. You can’t do that kind of stuff.
"The kid is very talented and he probably should be in the UFC, but that kind of stuff has got to stop... I have a great relationship with Nate and I have a good relationship with Nick. It’s not like I hate Nick Diaz. I talk to Nick Diaz every time I see him.
"Every time I see him he’s a good kid, but it’s the stuff after and the stuff away from the Octagon that’s stopping Nick. So everybody has to play the game at least this much."
Nick Diaz's challenger Saturday night is english mixed martial artist Paul 'Semtex' Daley (27-9-2). Daley's last fight in the UFC was on May 8, 2010.
He competed against Josh Koscheck for not only a shot at Georges St-Pierre's title but also a coaching stint with The Ultimate Fighter. Not only did Daley lose that night to Koscheck, he also received a lifetime ban from the UFC, for a sucker punch to Koscheck's head after the bell.
Here's what Dana had to say about Paul Daley:
"He's done," White said after the event.
"I don't give a [expletive] if he's the best 170-pounder in the world. He'll never come back here again. There's no excuse for that. These guys are professional athletes. You don't ever hit a guy blatantly after the bell like that, whether you're frustrated or not.
"It was probably one of the dumbest things I've ever seen because he is a talented guy, and he is one of the best 170-pounders in the world."
Despite the result on Saturday night, the UFC and Zuffa will be in a tricky position.
If Nick Diaz successfully defends his belt, does the UFC flat out reject the idea of a super fight between him and Georges St-Pierre? If Daley can pull off the upset and defeat Nick Diaz, does the UFC not welcome the hard hitting slugger back into the octagon?
Sure they can always reject those possibilities, but isn't Dana White all about giving fights the fans want to see? It's going to be interesting to see if Zuffa sees a true winner on Saturday night like the rest of us do.
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