Nate Diaz & Chris Avila | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #649
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Nate Diaz is opening a restaurant in Stockton with vegan and gluten-free options, aligning with his largely vegan diet.
- ❖The 'Stockton Slap' was popularized by Nick Diaz in the UFC as a tactical move to disorient opponents and signal an escalation.
- ❖Nate Diaz views fighting as an inherent part of his being, stating that if he's not fighting, he feels compelled to return to 'what I do.'
- ❖Nate declined a UFC fight against Conor McGregor, believing McGregor was on his 'last dying leg' and he refused to be a part of a 'comeback story.'
- ❖Both Nate Diaz and Chris Avila emphasize the importance of representing their hometown of Stockton (the 209) in their careers.
- ❖Nate strongly advocates for mandatory Jiu-Jitsu training in schools, citing benefits for self-defense, confidence, and social development.
Insights
1Nate Diaz's Venture into the Restaurant Business
Nate Diaz is opening a restaurant in his hometown of Stockton, California. The establishment will offer standard restaurant fare but with a strong emphasis on vegan and gluten-free options, reflecting his personal dietary preferences which are 'mainly vegan' with some seafood and eggs.
Nate Diaz states, 'I'm gonna open a restaurant where I live... just gonna have options like same thing regular restaurant has, but with uh vegan and gluten-free options also.' He confirms he eats 'mainly vegan' and likes it.
2The Origin and Philosophy of the 'Stockton Slap'
The iconic 'Stockton Slap' originated from Nate's brother, Nick Diaz, who used it in the UFC, notably against Robbie Lawler. Nate explains that the slap serves as a 'warning flare' or a 'nice gesture' to an opponent, indicating a willingness to escalate the fight without immediately resorting to a knockout blow. It's a psychological tactic to assert dominance and offer a chance for the opponent to back down.
Nate states, 'My brother was slapping people in the UFC the whole time... He started it.' He describes it as a 'warning, get the fuck out of my face' and 'a shut up, I could have just slept you, but I'm going to slap you and give you a chance.'
3The Significance of Stockton Identity in Fighting
Nate Diaz and Chris Avila strongly identify with Stockton (the 209 area code), viewing it as the 'core' of their identity and fighting spirit. They believe it's crucial to represent one's origins, as it shapes who they are and what they bring to their craft. This regional pride is a defining characteristic that sets them apart in the fighting world.
Nate states, 'Well, that's just where we come from and uh everything started there and that's the core, baby. You got to ref rep where you're from.' He uses Theo Von's New Orleans identity as an example.
4Jiu-Jitsu as a Foundational Life Skill
Nate Diaz advocates for mandatory Jiu-Jitsu training in schools, comparing its importance to learning how to swim. He believes it's essential for self-defense, fostering confidence, and developing crucial social skills. He recounts how training with older individuals (cops, doctors) as a teenager helped him overcome social anxiety and learn to communicate effectively.
Nate states, 'I think jiu-jitsu 100% should should be... necessary for everybody. It's like learning how to swim.' He details how training helped him talk to 35-year-old cops and doctors, overcoming social anxiety and learning to communicate.
5Fighting as an Inherent Identity, Not Just a Career
For Nate Diaz, fighting has transcended a mere career choice to become an integral part of his identity. After prolonged periods without fighting, he feels a strong pull to return to the sport, describing it as 'what I do.' Despite the immense physical and mental toll, the desire to fight is a constant, almost existential, drive.
Nate explains, 'Once you once you we've been doing this for so long if you're not fighting it's like that's what I do... it's just what I do now.' He adds, 'I can make millions of dollars doing all kind of other shit, I'm like there's nothing like doing what you do.'
6Strategic Fight Selection: Why Mike Perry Over Conor McGregor
Nate Diaz chose to fight Mike Perry on a Netflix card rather than accept a UFC offer to fight Conor McGregor. His reasoning was strategic and principled: he believes McGregor is past his prime ('on his last dying leg') and refused to be the 'ending to some fucker's story' or a 'comeback story.' Instead, he sought a fight against a currently active and dangerous opponent like Mike Perry, who is 'whipping ass' and making moves outside the UFC.
Nate details, 'They want me to fight Conor McGregor right now... I'm not trying to go kill off Conor when he's on his last dying leg... I ain't trying to finish this dude off.' He prefers fighting 'the most dangerous, most violent motherfucker there is on Netflix' and 'hunting Jake Paul's ass.'
7Critique of Fighter-Analysts and the 'BMF' Belt
Nate Diaz expresses strong disdain for fighter-analysts, particularly those who criticize active fighters without having achieved similar success or being willing to fight themselves. He specifically targets Daniel Cormier (DC), questioning his credentials to critique others given his own career. Nate also asserts his claim to the 'BMF' (Baddest Motherfucker) belt, which he believes he created and deserves, criticizing current holders or contenders who he feels are not truly 'the best.'
Nate states, 'I have a problem with uh fighters who start analyzing... Bro, you were never even a fighter.' He challenges DC, 'Why are you analyst now, Mr. Know-it-all? What the fuck happened in your career then?' He also claims, 'I started a whole division. That's me. That's my belt.'
Bottom Line
Nate Diaz's refusal to fight Conor McGregor when he perceived McGregor as 'on his last dying leg' reveals a unique code of honor, prioritizing a challenging, relevant opponent over a potentially lucrative but 'easy' fight against a struggling legend. He explicitly states he doesn't want to be the 'ending to some fucker's story' or a 'comeback story.'
This challenges the common perception in combat sports where fighters often seek high-profile, even if less competitive, matchups for financial gain. Diaz's stance suggests a deeper commitment to the integrity of the sport and his own legacy, choosing to fight those actively proving their dominance.
Promoters looking to attract fighters with a similar 'code' could focus on building cards with highly competitive, relevant matchups rather than relying solely on legacy names or 'comeback' narratives. This could cultivate a more respected, merit-based fighting landscape.
Nate Diaz believes CTE is more prevalent in football than fighting, citing his own experience playing football and the consistent helmet-to-helmet impacts causing headaches, which he contrasts with the nature of striking in combat sports.
This perspective, coming from a professional fighter, offers a contrarian view to the popular narrative that combat sports are the primary culprits for CTE. It highlights the potential underestimation of repetitive sub-concussive impacts in sports like football.
Further research comparing the long-term neurological impacts across different contact sports, considering both concussive and sub-concussive forces, could lead to more targeted safety protocols and equipment development in various athletic fields.
Opportunities
Vegan/Gluten-Free Restaurant with Broad Appeal
Nate Diaz is opening a restaurant that offers standard menu items alongside dedicated vegan and gluten-free options. This caters to a wider demographic, including those with dietary restrictions or preferences, without alienating traditional diners.
Fighter-Led Promotion Company ('Real Fight Incorporated')
Nate Diaz is developing his own promotion company, 'Real Fight Incorporated,' with plans to run MMA fight shows. This allows fighters to have more control over their careers, opponent selection, and potentially a larger share of the revenue, challenging traditional promotional models.
Key Concepts
The Fighter's Code
Nate Diaz operates by a personal code that dictates his fight choices: prioritizing fighting 'the best of the best when they are the best' and refusing to be a 'comeback story' for declining opponents. This extends to his view on fighter-analysts, believing they should only critique if they are willing to fight.
The Core Identity
Both Diaz and Avila emphasize that where they come from (Stockton, the 209) is their 'core' and defines who they are. This principle extends to their fighting style and public persona, asserting that 'what you see is what you get' and that one should always represent their roots.
Lessons
- Consider incorporating Jiu-Jitsu or other martial arts into your routine for self-defense, confidence building, and enhanced social interaction, as advocated by Nate Diaz.
- When making career decisions, especially in competitive fields, evaluate the 'timing' and the 'status' of potential collaborators or opponents, prioritizing growth and meaningful challenges over perceived easy wins or being a stepping stone for others.
- Cultivate a strong sense of identity and pride in your origins, as Nate Diaz and Chris Avila do with Stockton, allowing it to be a 'core' that grounds and defines your professional and personal brand.
Notable Moments
Nate Diaz recounts slapping a 'honky' at a pizza spot as a real-world application of the 'Stockton Slap' philosophy, using it as a warning before a full-blown altercation.
This anecdote provides a vivid, real-world example of the 'Stockton Slap's' intended purpose as a psychological tool and a 'warning flare,' illustrating the street-level application of a move popularized in professional fighting.
Nate Diaz uses the 'Gladiator' movie scene, where Russell Crowe's character observes a terrified, urinating soldier before battle, to explain the profound difference between a fan's 'excitement' for a fight and a fighter's pre-fight reality of fear and preparation.
This analogy powerfully conveys the immense psychological pressure and primal fear experienced by professional fighters, contrasting it with the detached excitement of a spectator. It offers a deeper understanding of the mental fortitude required for combat sports.
Quotes
"You got to ref rep where you're from. I think I think uh I had Ji Maderos come out from Hawaii one time to train with us and he started training with us and he's like, 'Yeah, woo.' And then and he was telling me all about Hawaii... I was like, 'Bro, you need to like tell people where you come from and represent all that shit cuz like I could listen to it all day.'"
"It's almost like a nice gesture, too. It's like, bro, I I I don't like when I see like out of nowhere like someone sm in front of you and hit his head down like, 'Bro, you just killed that guy, bro.' I'm like, 'Here's a warning, fucker. Get the fuck out of my face.' So, so it's nice."
"I think jiu-jitsu 100% should should be... necessary for everybody. It's like learning how to swim. Like I think everybody should learn how to swim. What if you fall in some shit water? Yeah. So that's what I think about, too."
"I can make millions of dollars doing all kind of other shit, I'm like there's nothing like doing what you do. Yeah. I gotta I gotta it doesn't feel like you're doing the right thing. So fighting for me is just what I do now. And it sucks and it's great and all that."
"I'm not trying to go kill off Connor when he's on his last dying fuckin' leg. Yeah, literally. That's fucked up. But but but I'm not trying to be the the ending to some fucker's story like that."
"I have a problem with uh fighters who start analyzing... Bro, you were never even a fighter. If that's what you do, you're a fucker. And you're going to fuckin' analyze and talk about how fighters are, what they should do, and you know it all. What the fuck happened in your career then? Why are you analyst now, Mr. Know-it-all?"
Q&A
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