UFC 137: 5 Reasons We Love Nick Diaz

Nick Diaz is the former Strikeforce welterweight champion, one of the best fighters in the world today, and is looked at by fans one of two ways.

They love him, or they hate him.

Every top fighter has their share of fans, and of haters, but Diaz takes it to a whole new level.

Fans either despise him, and cannot stand him, or they love him, and they can't get enough of him.

Here's five reasons why we LOVE Nick Diaz.

Flipping the Bird to Frank Shamrock

In 2009, Nick Diaz took on Frank Shamrock at a catchweight of 179 pounds, in the headlining event for Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz.

He was able to win the fight via TKO in the second round, but it was what happened before the fight that had everyone talking.

As the two went to square up after a press conference, Shamrock went to shake Diaz's hand, while Diaz, as you can see in the picture, flipped Shamrock the bird.

Don't Be Scared Homie

Most people probably hear this and think about Mayhem calling out Diaz by saying this, but it began much earlier than that.

In 2007, at Elite XC: Renegade, Nick Diaz fought KJ Noons, and lost via doctor stoppage from cuts.

Seven months later, both Noons and Diaz fought on the same card, Elite XC: Return of the King.

After Noons' win, Diaz was brought into the cage to make a statement to Noons about a possible rematch.

Noons asked the crowd what they thought, if Diaz deserved a rematch, and they responded with boos.

Diaz then took the microphone, and his words became forever enshrined in MMA.

"Don't be scared homie."

The Hospital Brawl

In February of 2006, Nick Diaz faced off against Joe Riggs at UFC 56, and dropped a unanimous decision, his second of three straight losses inside the Octagon.

But, even after 15 minutes, Diaz wasn't done fighting.

Both fighters were taken to the hospital for testing and overnight observation, at which point, Diaz started a fight with Riggs again.

In the words of Riggs,

"We were like going to get a room, and like he is always popping off, talking smack. I go down toward his end of the hospital to find a doctor so he could watch me pee in a cup for the boxing commission, and he comes talking smack. I’m like, go back to the WEC. You’re bush league. You just got beat up. That’s two in a row. You’re out. I was just standing around talking s*** to him. He was like, that’s it, and comes out of his room. I had my hands down. He starts coming up to me. I just never in a million years thought he’d throw a punch. He threw a right hook and hit me right in the chin. I mean it hit me right on the button. I seriously can’t say that I was knocked out, but I kind of went down to a knee. Then we just fought and scrambled. I put him against the wall and just Thai clinched and started kneeing the s*** out of him. His nose was bleeding. I kept kneeing him, and they broke us up. That’s all that happened."

The Strikeforce Brawl

At Strikeforce: Nashville in 2010, they had a night of huge fights.

On the undercard, Mayhem Miller fought Tim Stout. On the main card, Muhammed Lawal took the light heavyweight title from Gegard Mousasi, Gilbert Melendez defended his lightweight title against Shinya Aoki, and in the main event, heavy underdog, Jake Shields, defended his middleweight title against Dan Henderson.

But the fighting wasn't over there.

After Shields' win, his team entered the cage in support of him to celebrate the biggest win of his career, and that included Melendez, Nate Diaz, and our boy, Nick Diaz.

Then, Mayhem found his way into the cage, and asked Shields "where's my rematch buddy?"

It was at that point, that Gilbert Melendez shoved Mayhem away, and all hell broke lose.

Diaz, and teammates, jumped Mayhem, and thus, the Strikeforce: Nashville Brawl became a part of MMA infamy, on national TV on CBS.

Taunting During Fights

One of the trademarks of Nick Diaz is the way that he taunts opponents during his fights.

Diaz goes out there, drops his hands, puts them in the air, at his sides, and talks smack the entire time that he is in the cage.

The fight against Paul Daley is a perfect example.

Diaz dropped his hands, multiple times, and got caught and nearly finished by Daley.

However, Diaz was able to come back and finish Daley to earn a first round TKO.

Tell me you don't find the taunting the least bit entertaining.

Not only is the taunting entertaining, but he's one of the most entertaining fighters in MMA to begin with.

Why Do You Love Nick Diaz?

These are just five reasons why we love Nick Diaz, but why do you love him?

Or, conversely, why do you hate Diaz?

For almost all fans, it's one or the other, and there's no changing their opinions.

Sound off in the comments.

Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow me on twitter @tmt2393.