Is Nick Diaz a Better Fit Outside of the UFC?

As Nick Diaz secured the first defense of his Strikeforce welterweight title last week, while also avenging the lone loss in his last 14 fights, talk quickly turned to the same subject that always comes up after a Strikeforce fighter gets a big win: how he would do in the UFC.

Diaz owns a respectable 6-4 UFC record but hasn't competed in the octagon since 2006—his last appearance being a second-round TKO over Gleison Tibau at UFC 65.

Since then, Diaz has competed in EliteXC, Dream and Strikeforce, going 13-1 with victories over Takanori Gomi—we all know who won that fight—Frank Shamrock and most recently K.J. Noons.

He has clearly established himself as one of the premier fighters in the sport, but does he belong in the sport's premier promotion? More interestingly, would he want to?

For one, that would be a UFC welterweight division a bit crowded with Cesar Gracie teammates. Nick's younger brother Nate fights at 170 pounds in the UFC, as well as close friend and training partner Jake Shields. Nick has stated he would never fight one of his teammates, so if one of them was ever able to capture the title, it would leave the other two with little to strive for in the UFC ranks.

At the moment, Diaz is somewhat of a big fish in a small pond. If he were to join the UFC, he would likely not get anywhere near the attention he gets now. Diaz is one of Strikeforce's biggest assets. At this point, whoever Diaz fights, it will headline an event, and people will watch.

Like Fedor Emelianenko, Diaz is becoming almost a cult figure in MMA. He doesn't get the mainstream coverage, but the hardcore fans realize he is one of the best in the world. It makes some fans feel more pride in watching Diaz fights, rooting for the anti-hero to succeed on a path less chosen.

If he were to move to the UFC, he might lose a bit of that. He certainly wouldn't get away with some of the antics he's displayed outside of the UFC.

For example, his team's all-out assault on Jason Miller following a Strikeforce event would have been handled a bit differently by the UFC brass. In Strikeforce, he is too important to receive more than a slap on the wrist. The UFC has shown they don't put up with those kinds of shenanigans, and Diaz would likely have gone the way of Paul Daley.

It is hard to find a reason that Diaz should leave his current position. He is making decent money, certainly more than he ever has in his career up to this point. He's putting on tremendous fights on a regular basis, and that might change if he were to switch over to the UFC's ultra-competitive matchmaking.

As it is, Diaz produces fireworks when he is matched with someone else willing to hit and get hit, which Strikeforce is all too willing to provide. In the UFC, he would be forced to face the elite wrestlers that nobody in their right mind prefers to face. Clearly, wrestling is Diaz's Achilles heel, and the Jon Fitchs and George St. Pierres of the world would be a very tough outing for him—as they are for anyone.

In the UFC, you can market fights like the upcoming lightweight championship between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard because they are truly two of the best and the world wants to know who is better. But in an upstart promotion like Strikeforce, a match between two fighters with the styles of Maynard and Edgar would not go over as well.

When you don't have the best fighters, it then becomes about putting on the best fights.

Strikeforce has no shortage of opponents that could oppose Diaz in a skillful brawl. The aforementioned Paul Daley could be in line for that welterweight title, and surely any fan would salivate over a matchup between him and Diaz.

Diaz is making money and developing a legacy by putting on great fights and staying true to himself. Frankly, I would prefer him to stay where he is.