The Doggy Bag: The Worrywart Edition

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Nate Diaz’s performance against Jim Miller was incredible, and UFC President Dana White did the right thing by giving him the winner of Benson Henderson-Frank Edgar 2. I’m curious which fighter you think Diaz would have the better chance of defeating and why. Also, is there a “better” champ for the 155-pound division than Diaz right now? Henderson is crazy exciting, but since lightweight has no real star power right now, Diaz’s brash and exciting style could help put everybody else on the map, too, by making people want to watch the division. -- Jake from Galveston

Brian Knapp, features editor: Diaz has looked like a world beater since returning to 155 pounds, with wins over Miller, Donald Cerrone and Takanori Gomi. Each victory has been more impressive than the last, culminating with his submission of Miller, an experienced and durable fighter who had never before been finished. With that feather in his cap, Diaz secured his spot as the No. 1 contender for lightweight gold -- and deservedly so.

Still, Diaz has his work cut out for him against either Henderson or Edgar. Personally, I believe he has a better chance of unseating Edgar, the opponent more likely to oblige him with a firefight.

Diaz’s accurate, high-volume punching style, iron chin and seemingly endless gas tank poses problems for anyone willing to stand and engage him; his improved takedown defense, showcased in the one-sided romp over Miller, makes him that much more dangerous for someone trying to avoid his hands. Edgar would need to call upon a game plan similar to the one Carlos Condit employed against Diaz’s older brother at UFC 143: punch, kick, clinch and move. Over the course of a five-round fight, however, Edgar’s willingness and desire to exchange could conceivable lead to his undoing.

Henderson poses challenges of his own. A brute of a lightweight, he is a handful in the clinch and virtually impossible to submit. Moreover, he has proven adept at unleashing kicks to the legs, body and head and wields a far more diverse striking attack than Edgar. If I were Diaz, I would hope for a victory from “The Answer” at UFC 150. I think Diaz loses a decision to both men, but a matchup with Edgar would create a much clearer path to gold.

I have to respectfully disagree with your assessment that the lightweight division needs more star power at the top. With the UFC’s designs on global expansion, Henderson’s ties to Korea -- his mother is Korean -- make him eminently valuable to the promotion as it pushes deeper into Asia. And there can be no better ambassador for the sport than Edgar, a likeable personality with a warrior spirit few can match. Would Diaz be a marketable champion? Of course. Would he provide a “better” alternative to Henderson or Edgar? I have to say no.