If there is one fighter who is mightily unhappy with CM Punk's newly inked UFC deal, it is former lightweight title contender Nate Diaz.
The 29-year old Stockton, California native merely asked the question "Why" upon hearing about the said piece of news on Saturday night's broadcast of the UFC 181 pay-per-view event. But in a recent interview with MMAJunkie.com, the younger Diaz brother offered a more elaborate response.
"He has got no fights. I know he's a big draw. I looked him up," Diaz said. "Everyone's going to buy tickets. It's going to be great for the venue and the UFC, but at the same time, it downgrades all the fighters."
Nate Diaz has been a long-time figure of the sport. Having been actively competing for ten years now, he serves a reasonable amount of right to question the entire situation. Not to mention the entire Brock Lesnar situation, wherein a notable WWE talent attempted to crossover into MMA.
Instead of going directly to the UFC, Lesnar, who is also the former heavyweight champion, fought in a smaller promotion first, despite the fact that he is also a big draw.
To his credit, Diaz also stated that he understands how the prizefighting game is. He is aware how much revenue the UFC would be generating out of CM Punk's name, WWE success, and fan base, among others. His beef, however, is the alleged unfair treatment that the UFC is giving him and his fellow fighters.
"When I fight I don't get to the UFCs and hold the mic and go 'hey, Nate Diaz is fighting,'" Diaz said. "They don't care about Stefan Struve or Stipe (Miocic) over here, they don't put us with a mic. And that's a lack of respect from the company."
Diaz also questioned the UFC's decision to sign Punk in a snap of a finger. For him, it would not be the same case if he decided to play in the NBA or the NFL, noting that it is not that easy to jump ship just because he wanted to.
"Give me a chance to go to the WWE and make his money, you won't catch me back here in the UFC making pennies no more," he continued.
The Ultimate Fighter Season 5 winner did clarify that he means no ill will towards Punk. All he did was question the entire business move made by the UFC, which firmly believes is not fair towards him and other fighters who have been in the company longer.
But as far as Punk's chances are, Diaz had something interesting to say.
"He got that little nose. That thing's a virgin. Someone's gonna bust that thing."
Nate Diaz will be making his return after a yearlong break this weekend against top contender Rafael Dos Anjos as part of the main card of UFC on FOX 13. The event is scheduled to take place at the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Watch Nate Diaz's entire interview here:
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