Breaking Down Strikeforce Diaz Vs. Cyborg: Nick Diaz vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos

Added on Jan 28, 2011 by John Petit in

UFC & MMA

Strikeforce Welterweight Championship
Nick Diaz vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos

If you ask me, Nick Diaz is the most well rounded fighter on the Strikeforce roster, and after watching him develop over the years, it is far from shocking to see him defending his belt. His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has always been an absolute joy to watch, and seeing the striking clinics he has been putting on are almost unreal. Diaz is only 27 years old, and the future for him is nothing but bright.

Nick is coming off of a five round decision win over KJ Noons, and before that he finished both Scott Smith and Frank Shamrock. He displayed a solid chin in the Noons fight and won the fight, but didn’t put on the fight many thought he would, when compared to his earlier fights. Noons utilized his quickness and different angles to frustrate Diaz and it kept Nick on his toes a large portion of the fight.

Diaz is a pick your poison type of fighter. You don’t want to play around on the floor with the Ceasar Gracie Black Belt, and you don’t want to get into a lot of exchanges with a guy who can throw as many punches as Nick can and not get tired. Diaz knows how to stay calm in bad spots, and cardio is never an issue, even after five rounds.

Cyborg isn’t a real technical fighter. His game is to come forward and brawl, and this could be recipe for disaster in this fight. I am sure he is planning to overwhelm Diaz, and I am not convinced he is the fighter that can dot hat against Diaz. Cyborg has dropped fights against less savvy opponents then Diaz by employing this strategy. Diaz’s wrestling is the hole that Cyborg needs to exploit, and fighters have frustrated Nick by doing this, but I am not sure Cyborg has the tool box to out point him on the mat. Especially when you think about how active Nick’s guard is, and how fluid his transitions are from submission attempt to submission attempt.

When Nick is facing a high paced striker he always seemed to find a way to turn the fight in his favor. If Cyborg wants to win this fight he has to connect on Nick early in the fight, and hope he can overwhelm him. I am not sure Cyborg has the ability to this. I expect Cyborg to come out and try to murder Nick in the first 60 seconds, but I see Nick riding it out and sucking Cyborg into his fight. At this point, Nick will probably start landing punches in bunches, and send Cyborg to the mat. I think Cyborg will get dropped, and in the scramble he will give up his back to Nick, and Diaz will finish the fight by submission. I will say early in round 2.