Nate Diaz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nate Diaz |
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Nate Diaz in 2019
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| Born | Nathan Donald Diaz April 16, 1985 Stockton, California, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | |||||||||||||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Division | Lightweight (2004–2010, 2011–2015) Welterweight (2010–2011, 2016–present) |
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| Reach | 76 in (193 cm) | |||||||||||||
| Stance | Southpaw | |||||||||||||
| Fighting out of | Stockton, California, U.S. | |||||||||||||
| Team | Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu | |||||||||||||
| Trainer | Richard Perez (Boxing) Cesar Gracie (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) |
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| Rank | 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Cesar Gracie | |||||||||||||
| Years active | 2004–present | |||||||||||||
| Professional boxing record | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 34 | |||||||||||||
| Wins | 21 | |||||||||||||
| By knockout | 5 | |||||||||||||
| By submission | 12 | |||||||||||||
| By decision | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Losses | 13 | |||||||||||||
| By knockout | 2 | |||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | |||||||||||||
| By decision | 10 | |||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||
| Children | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Notable relatives | Nick Diaz (brother) | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Nathan Donald Diaz (born April 16, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist and professional boxer. He is famous for fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for over 15 years. Nate Diaz won The Ultimate Fighter 5, a TV show where fighters compete. Before joining the UFC, he fought in other groups like World Extreme Cagefighting and Strikeforce. Diaz has earned many bonus awards in the UFC, with 16 in total. In 2012, he even fought for the UFC Lightweight Championship title.
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About Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz was born in Stockton, California. His parents are Melissa and Robert Diaz. He grew up with his older brother, Nick, and his sister, Nina. Nate started training in martial arts when he was 11 years old, alongside his brother. He went to Tokay High School.
Nate Diaz's MMA Journey
Early Fights
Before joining the UFC, Nate Diaz had his first official professional MMA fight. He mainly competed in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC). In 2006, he fought for the WEC Lightweight Championship but lost. This was the last WEC event before the UFC's parent company bought it.
Becoming a UFC Star
Winning The Ultimate Fighter
Nate Diaz became well-known when he joined The Ultimate Fighter 5. This TV show featured only lightweight fighters. Nate was on Jens Pulver's team. He won several fights by submission, showing off his strong grappling skills. In the finals, he faced Manny Gamburyan. Nate won when Gamburyan had to stop due to a shoulder injury. This victory made Nate Diaz the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 5.
Key Fights and Achievements
After winning The Ultimate Fighter, Nate Diaz continued to impress. He won several fights by submission, which is when a fighter makes their opponent give up. He often asked for tougher opponents. In 2008, he defeated Kurt Pellegrino with a triangle choke. He even flexed for the crowd while locking in the move!
In 2009, Diaz had some tough fights. He lost to Clay Guida and Joe Stevenson. However, he bounced back by winning against Melvin Guillard with a guillotine choke.
Moving Weight Classes
In 2010, Nate Diaz considered moving to a heavier weight class, called Welterweight. He felt it was too hard to cut weight for the lightweight division. He won his first welterweight fight against Rory Markham. He then fought Marcus Davis and won by submission. This fight was so exciting that it earned Fight of the Night honors.
After a couple of losses at welterweight, Nate decided to move back to the lightweight division in 2011. He quickly showed his skills by defeating Takanori Gomi with an armbar. He also had an amazing fight against Donald Cerrone, winning by decision. This fight was also named Fight of the Night.
Earning a Black Belt
In 2012, Nate Diaz earned his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from his coach, Cesar Gracie. This was a big achievement after many years of training. Soon after, he faced Jim Miller, another skilled jiu-jitsu fighter. Nate won by guillotine choke, which was the first time Miller had ever been stopped in a fight.
Later in 2012, Nate Diaz fought for the UFC Lightweight Championship against Benson Henderson. He lost this title fight by decision.
Challenges and Comebacks
In 2013, Nate Diaz lost to Josh Thomson. After this, he had a break from fighting. He returned later that year to fight Gray Maynard again. Nate won this rematch by TKO in the first round.
After another break, Diaz returned in 2015 to fight Michael Johnson. He won this exciting fight by decision, and it was named Fight of the Night.
Big Fights with Conor McGregor
In 2016, Nate Diaz stepped in on short notice to fight superstar Conor McGregor at UFC 196. The fight was at welterweight. Nate surprised many by winning in the second round with a submission. This was a huge win for Nate and earned him Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses.
A rematch with McGregor happened later that year at UFC 202. It was another thrilling fight, but Nate lost by a close decision. This fight also won Fight of the Night honors.
Recent UFC Fights
After a two-year break, Nate Diaz returned in 2019 at UFC 241. He faced Anthony Pettis and won by decision. Later that year, he fought Jorge Masvidal for a special "BMF" title. Nate lost the fight when the doctor stopped it due to a cut.
In 2021, Diaz fought Leon Edwards. Edwards won by decision, but Nate surprised him with punches in the final round.
His last fight in the UFC was in 2022 against Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Nate won with a guillotine choke in the fourth round. This win earned him another Performance of the Night bonus. After this fight, Nate Diaz became a free agent, meaning he could choose where to fight next.
Nate Diaz's Boxing Career
Fighting Jake Paul
After leaving the UFC, Nate Diaz decided to try professional boxing. On August 5, 2023, he made his boxing debut against Jake Paul, a well-known YouTuber and boxer. The fight took place in Dallas, Texas. Jake Paul won the fight by decision.
Rematch with Jorge Masvidal
Nate Diaz had another boxing match scheduled for July 6, 2024. He fought Jorge Masvidal again, but this time in a boxing ring. Nate won this boxing match by majority decision.
Nate Diaz's Life Outside the Ring
Nate Diaz's older brother, Nick, is also a famous MMA fighter. They both run a Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Stockton, California, called Nick Diaz Academy. They also started a company that sells CBD products. Nate has mostly been vegan since he was 18, but sometimes eats fish. He has one daughter, born in 2018.
Nate is known for supporting his community in Stockton. He helps young fighters and has brought a lot of attention to his hometown. In December 2022, the mayor of Stockton gave him a key to the city.
Nate Diaz's Awards and Achievements
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- The Ultimate Fighter 5 winner
- Fight of the Night (Eight times)
- Tied for third most Fight of the Night bonuses in UFC history (8)
- Knockout of the Night (One time)
- Performance of the Night (Two times)
- Submission of the Night (Five times)
- Third most Post-Fight bonuses in UFC history (16)
- Tied for the fourth most submission wins in UFC Lightweight division history (7)
- Tied for fifth most submissions in UFC history (10)
- Fifth most total strikes landed in UFC history (2487)
- Tied for fourth most submission attempts in UFC history (26)
- MMAJunkie.com
- 2016 March Fight of the Month
- 2016 August Fight of the Month
- 2019 November Fight of the Month
- Sherdog
- 2011 All-Violence First Team
- World MMA Awards
- 2016 Submission of the Year
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- 2016 Feud of the Year
Images for kids
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Nate Diaz in 2019
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Diaz in 2009.
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Diaz at UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle in 2011
See also
In Spanish: Nate Diaz para niños
- List of male mixed martial artists
