Issue 081
November 2011
Tipped to own the perfect style to dethrone UFC welterweight kingpin Georges St Pierre this October, Nick Diaz’s moves are a must-have for anyone’s arsenal
THE GOGOPLATA
The Cesar Gracie-trained Diaz has excellent defense on the mat. No matter how much pressure he’s under, he always finds a way to defend himself from the turtle or from the guard.
In the Gym
Work your guard, focusing on tying up an opponent who is trying to strike you. Use your feet to control the hips and your shins to block the punches at the elbow. Once you have defended yourself, work for the triangle, the kimura, the omoplata and the gogoplata.
In Action
Diaz wasted no time in trapping Takanori Gomi in the gogoplata when Gomi tried to double-leg him after being outboxed at Pride 33 in Las Vegas back in 2007.
KNEES TO THE LEGS
Diaz’s tactics are often to slow down his opponent in the early stages of a bout, then pick them apart once they begin to fatigue. Knees to the legs are a low-risk, effective way to kill an opponent’s footwork early, and exploit their limited mobility later.
In the Gym
Spar against the wall, threaten with the takedown by holding a single or double. If your opponent moves his legs to avoid the knee, take advantage and execute the takedown.
In Action
Diaz slowed down the footwork and the kicks of the explosive Marius Zaromskis at Srikeforce: Miami in 2010, leading to a knockout victory.
HANDS-DOWN FIGHTING STYLE
Diaz often maintains his distance or covers up and strikes conservatively during the opening stanza of a fight. As soon as his opponent tires a little he becomes a different animal, dropping his hands and luring the opponent into his range.
In the Gym
Have your pad man glove up in 16oz’ers and wear a heavy, boxing bodyshield. Hold your hands low and slip the pad man’s punches, picking your shots to the body, mixing hooks, straights and uppercuts.
In Action
In October 2010, Diaz frequently egged on KJ Noons in their five-round second meeting, goading him into exchanges both verbally and by dropping his hands.
HAND COMBINATIONS
Training with Olympic gold medalist turned pro-boxer Andre Ward, Nick Diaz’s boxing style is predicated on his unusually long reach, which allows him to throw long combinations of hooks and uppercuts whilst staying safe from straight counters.
In the Gym
Work with your pad man wearing hand mitts and a body shield. Put together long combinations of body shots, hooks and uppercuts. Work on timing and speed over power for five five-minute rounds.
In Action
Diaz’s boxing combinations have been critical to his recent winning streak, with victories over two of the world’s best welterweight strikers, Paul Daley and Evangelista ‘Cyborg’ Santos.
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