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By Shawn Ennis, MMATorch Senior Columnist
Nick Diaz just can't seem to grow up.
Almost five years after not having his contract renewed by the UFC, after having an all-time great win against Takanori Gomi overturned because of marijuana use, after catching heat for being involved in two post-fight brawls (neither initiated by him, but it's no coincidence that he was involved), after now-infamous comments by Dana White that he needs to learn how to "play the game," Diaz reportedly went out of his way to finally screw himself out of the biggest opportunity of his career.
You've heard the story. Diaz no-shows the press conference in Montreal. Cesar Gracie tries to keep track of him by keeping him in his (Gracie's) own house to make sure Diaz gets on the plane. Dana White books multiple flights to accommodate Diaz. Diaz, in his infinite wisdom, sneaks out of the house and decides to no-show the press conference in Vegas, prompting his long-time trainer to call Dana White and apologize for his completely embarrassing and childlike behavior.
I have four children. My oldest is six. He will often complain to me that he doesn't want to do something because it's boring, or because he wants to play, or because he just plain doesn't want to do it. What I tell him, and what he can't quite wrap his six-year-old mind around just yet, is that sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do.
Nick Diaz is 28 years old. No one should have to explain to him that there are things in life that you have to do even though you don't want to. For someone willing to learn and grow from his experiences, Nick Diaz's career has been full of learning experiences. But Diaz refuses to learn.
There's something to be said for being yourself. It's fine to not want to be part of the system, or whatever it is that teenagers say. But at some point you need to do what your employer wants if you want to keep your job. Fighting is only part of the job for a UFC main eventer. Nick Diaz knew this going in. He agreed to the terms ahead of time. And now he finds himself without what could have been a huge payday, without the biggest fight of his career, and possibly without a job.
He's got no one to blame for any of this but himself, and nothing is going to change until Nick Diaz decides to grow up.
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STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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