Both Nick and Nate Diaz are currently training under Cesar Gracie at his academy, Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Stockton, California. Two of the most famous names in MMA, the Diaz brothers were important in Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu despite experiencing many ups and downs in their MMA careers.
Nick and Nate Diaz were also heavily influenced by his upbringing, whose insights can be seen in his fighting style. Although Nick Diaz calls it a curse, Nate Diaz sums up the true warrior mentality with one motto: Always be fully engaged in the fight.
Referring to the ‘kill or be killed’ state of mind, Nick Diaz told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto:
“I was a lot more real than the other fighters. I put up my middle finger and said, ‘F— you,’ and they’re sitting there like we’re not even fighting. No, we’re fighting. And it’s you. Will remind you soon.” These other people are trying to make a game out of it, but I’m just keeping it real with what’s going on. “
When Conor McGregor mocked Nate Diaz for teaching Jiu-Jitsu
Conor McGregor first faced Nate Diaz at UFC 196, when he took on Rafael dos Anjos 11 days earlier. In typical McGregor fashion, Conor would try to get Diaz in the head by calling his teammates “Juice” and mocking him for teaching jiu-jitsu to kids.
Nate Diaz was clearly out of focus because of the rhetoric as he successfully defeated McGregor at 4:12 of the second round. Speaking about the fight, Richard Perez, the Diaz brothers’ longtime boxing coach, said:
“Hips [Diaz] Above he likes to talk. This pumps it up even more. That’s what happens. “
Speaking about the attempted takedown of McGregor, which ultimately led to the end of the fight, Perez added:
“Once Nathan started using his range and his direct shots and combinations and putting them down, I knew it was going to be over. When he shot it, he didn’t want to punish anymore. So he did it. And it was a big mistake. It was working fine. Once he put it down, it was over. I knew it was over. Because this guy. Jiu-Jitsu isn’t the man. It’s Nathan.”