Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos (18-13 MMA, 1-0 SF) is a good fight for right now, according to Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz (23-7 MMA, 4-0 SF). But is it one that excites him? Not really.
That feeling is reserved for two fighters outside his reach, at least for the foreseeable future: UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
Diaz called out the UFC champs – with particular emphasis on St-Pierre – Thursday during a conference call in support of his second title defense, which comes next Saturday at "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg," which takes place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and airs live on Showtime.
It was Diaz's time to talk about all things "Cyborg." But as the clock's long hand inched forward, he strayed.
Per the usual, his attitude was more "me against the world" than "we are the world." Santos next? Fine, fine. Sure he's an aggressive fighter better suited to welterweight than middleweight. Diaz will fight him Jan. 29. It's his job, and he takes his job seriously. It's really just another booking.
Diaz has been doing this for more than 10 years and has yet to receive his due. He drives a Honda, and it's breaking down. He can't buy his girlfriend's mom a new Mercedes. It costs him a small fortune to eat healthy.
Those are just a few things that make him mad. Take Jason "Mayhem" Miller. A question posed to Diaz by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) about his long-term plans in the welterweight class prompted a stream of expletives on a grudge match with Miller that fizzled when the two couldn't agree on a catchweight.
He seems perpetually pissed these days at a sport that's taken more from him than given. He might, however, be able to even the score, or at least gain a moral victory, with a fight against St-Pierre.
The problem is he just signed a new long-term contract extension with Strikeforce, and the two promotions are set to collaborate on the Fifth of Never. His teammate will wage war on his behalf. That's about as good as it's going to get for now.
"I think my partner is going to take him out," Diaz said after calling out St-Pierre while referring to Jake Shields, who meets the UFC champion in the main event of UFC 129.
Where does all this enmity toward St-Pierre come from? Diaz said it stretches back to his days as an up-and-comer in the UFC. He said the French Canadian was given better fights and preferential treatment. He said St-Pierre – among other UFC stars – were handed out "gimmes" against less-than-stellar competition while he was given a steady stream of tough guys.
Case in point: Recent St-Pierre nemesis and "The Ultimate Fighter 1" veteran Josh Koscheck, who fought Chris Sanford in his first post-reality show appearance. Diaz, who said he cornered Sanford, said the fighter was woefully underprepared for Koscheck and was pretty much pulled off a bar stool to fight.
"He was set up to fight Josh Koscheck, and then he takes an ass-whooping," Diaz said. "That's what I'm saying. They made easy fights for those guys. I never fought anybody like that guy that I had brought to fight against Koscheck."
Put St-Pierre or Silva at the top of the rankings, and you've got the makings of another rant.
"When you bring up guys like that to me and tell me they're the best fighters in the world, it's a [expletive] joke," Diaz said. "That's a joke to me."
Diaz's ultimate dream is to get the last laugh on those who think St-Pierre is No. 1. It very well could be that no one is higher than him, at least when it comes to the best in his division.
A win over the UFC champ could make him happy, however unrealistic it is. Here's one for wishful thinking.
"Straight up, people think this guy is better than me, and that's bull [expletive]," Diaz said before his phone reception went into spasms. "What do you guys want? You've got the guy ranked above me."
More static, and a kid screaming in the background.
"You've got magazines with all these Abercrombie-looking [expletive] fighters walking around and cutting weight."
A Brazilian mumbling in the background. The kid cooing. Wind like cars passing outside.
There's always an opponent for Diaz to fight, himself included.
"Hey Nick, it's pretty obvious that you'll fight anybody, anytime," interjected Showtime PR executive John Beyrooty. "It's a shame you're not in the heavyweight tournament."
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