Under the Microscope: Analyzing Welterweight Greats

Nick Diaz has won titles in Strikeforce and the WEC but lacks the crown jewel. | Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com

Nick Diaz

* Welterweight Record: 14-7 (.667)
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .727
* Longest Winning Streak: 11
* Record in Major Welterweight Title Fights: 5-2
* Finish Percentage: 85.7
* Finished Percentage: 0
* Notable Victories: Robbie Lawler, Marius Zaromskis, Hayato Sakurai, K.J. Noons, Paul Daley, B.J. Penn
* Career Accomplishments: Former WEC welterweight champion; former Strikeforce welterweight champion, with three title defenses; two-time UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus winner

CASE FOR: Diaz is one of the most unique, polarizing figures in the sport, the volume of his detractors only matched by the loyal raucousness of his following. Being a character does not make you great on its own, but Diaz has the hardware to back it up, boasting several major organizational championships to his name. What truly sets Diaz apart is his penchant for finishing opponents. The rate itself is higher than almost everyone on this list, but what makes it more impressive is how balanced his finishes are between knockouts, technical knockouts and submissions; of his 12 welterweight finishes, seven are a result of his striking and five came from submissions. This makes Diaz one of the most potently versatile fighters on this list. Combined with the fact that no welterweight has ever been able to put him away, Diaz, love him or hate him, is arguably the greatest welterweight to don the four-ounce gloves.

CASE AGAINST: First and foremost, there is a gaping omission on his ledger: a UFC title. It is one thing for this crown jewel to be absent for non-UFC fighters, but it is a bigger knock against Diaz since he has competed in the UFC welterweight division since 2003. Granted, his tenure in the UFC has been sporadic, but that does not excuse the fact that he has had a shot at the interim and undisputed titles and failed both times. The manner in which he has failed also puts an obvious dent in his armor. Diaz has struggled against dominant wrestlers throughout his career. In a discussion about the greatest of all-time, having such a blatant Achilles’ heel does not help your case, especially considering the multi-faceted gifts of some of the other candidates. In summation, Diaz is definitely a name to consider, and should he return to welterweight, he could very well land himself in the history books as the greatest ever. However, that claim does not quite hold up at this point.

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