Examining the Cult of Nick Diaz

Envision a fighter with an indomitable will, a will that ascends him to lofty heights within his profession, but a will that struggles with the very authority making him wealthy.

Envision a fighter who claims landmark victories over BJ Penn and Takanori Gomi, yet currently stares down the second suspension of his career, following no less than a championship bout.

Envision a fighter who enters the arena with tenacity unsurpassed by any peer, yet exhibits perhaps the least discipline of anyone outside the confines of competitive combat. The paradox here is confounding. MMA has established its fan base via a sleekly polished reputation for controlled chaos. But the volatility of this sport draws volatile athletes and oftentimes puts their volatile personalities on display.

There are certain precarious situations in which these personalities benefit the sport. Largely decried at the time, Brock Lesnar's post-fight rant at UFC 100 has become one of MMA's defining moments, even solidifying him as the top star in the UFC's brief history. But for every Lesnar there is a Junie Browning or a "War Machine" (formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver), a fighter whose exploits outside the cage supersede those within it. These are the sort of men who let their personalities undermine their performance, and eventually derail their careers.

What becomes of Nick Diaz remains to be seen, but failing a post-fight drug test following the biggest match of his career has done nothing if not reveal the fascination toward him by the MMA fanbase. Diaz has long flaunted his use of marijuana, a substance banned by any athletic association he could possibly find in which to fight a sanctioned bout. So it would lead one to believe that his arrogance and ignorance would be the subject of universal ridicule, especially considering the significance of the bout he just lost. That's far from the case, however. These past weeks have revealed legions of fans on social media and internet message boards flocking to defend a bona fide rule-breaker.

But, perhaps, that is in fact his allure. The rules, as there are in place, make no sense to him, therefore he does not need to follow them. Damn the legality of a thing; if Nick Diaz wants to do something, he's going to do it. And a severely vocal portion of MMA fans adore that brash nature.

It's as if Diaz has unwittingly, understatedly created a miniature cult of personality. He doesn't shun the spotlight, nor does he seek it. It's just there, and it illuminates the unflinching belief the he is always right. He can't understand how the judges could award Carlos Condit a victory, if they are truly there to score a fight. He thinks it preposterous that he should be punished for missing pre-fight promotional events. He thinks Georges St. Pierre, one of the most dominant champions in modern combat sports, with a style tailor-made to defeat Diaz, is ducking him. It is this self-assuredness, verging on ludicrous, that makes him such a compelling figure. He is as blunt an instrument as there can be at the pinnacle of a sport, and he makes no apologies for being so.

Diaz will not become a Junie Browning or a "War Machine" simply because his natural talent will never render him irrelevant. But, at the same time, he may not become an undisputed champion in the vein of Lesnar, whose polarizing character only augmented the physical dominance exhibited during his stretch at the top. The only thing that can be said of all these men is that they were magnets for controversy. And for a man as talented as Nick Diaz, it will be sad if that is the only sure thing ever to be said of him.

SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit