Why Nick Diaz Has Become the UFC's New Villain

In an ever-evolving MMA world that thrives on good vs. evil and hero vs. villain battles to build up new and unique interest in fights, the UFC has a new villain in town, and his name is Nick Diaz.

Keeping in perspective real villains and heroes in the world, mixed martial arts and UFC fans are driven to a frenzy with the actions of some of the most colorful and controversial fighters in the game.

The mouth that is Tito Ortiz held the mantle for ages based on his cocky antics and feud with Dana White. Then WWE behemoth Brock Lesnar took the reins with his unsportsmanlike and rabid post-fight antics at UFC 100.

Josh Koscheck found out what happens in Canada when you trash-talk and call out UFC hero and poster boy Georges St-Pierre, as he did leading up to their match at UFC 124. St-Pierre is now an international superstar and admired all around the world for his fighting spirit and integrity.

Nick Diaz has openly and seriously questioned GSP's heart and integrity by saying he is faking his current injury, and now it is Diaz who has become the UFC's new top villain.

GSP is the ultimate company man, and in the absence of Randy Couture, he has become the good face of mixed martial arts in North America and around the world. Diaz, in his own words, "poked his finger in Georges' chest to get a fight," and according to Dana White, he got an angry reaction out of GSP that no one has ever provoked before.

Not only did Diaz throw GSP for a loop by not showing up to promote the originally scheduled fight this past weekend, he has now openly questioned George as a fighter and a man.

Where I come from, those are fighting words.

The provocation worked, and now in the absence of Chael Sonnen-Anderson Silva II, we have another real hero vs. villain battle to look forward to on Super Bowl weekend.

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter at wakafightermma.