Skip to Main Content

How to Fight Like Nick Diaz

By Jessica Militello

Nick Diaz throws a punch at an opponent during a UFC match.One of the UFC’s most legendary and respected fighters made a very long-awaited return to the octagon at UFC 266 for a rematch with Robbie Lawler that was 17 years in the making and many couldn’t even believe it was really happening. 

After such a long hiatus from fighting, many fighters, commentators, and fans weighed in on their thoughts of Nick’s performance that night and their feelings on a TKO decision via retirement just 44 seconds into the third round. Prior to that point both fighters exchanged punches for 5 minutes straight in both of the first two rounds, but Lawler was better prepared and got the win. Still, Nick did well considering a very long hiatus and only training for the fight for about six weeks. 

Going forward, it’s completely possible that Nick can perform much better next time should he choose to fight again in the near future after shaking off some ring rust and with a much better and more prepared training camp.

However, his talent and legend were still present that night and there’s a lot to learn from the Stockton bad boy’s fighting techniques and skill. The former welterweight champion in Strikeforce, WEC, and IFC has always had a unique fighting style and some of his attributes fit perfectly with the technique and philosophy of Jeet Kune Do. 

If you’d like to become a better martial artist, here are some great qualities that you can learn from watching Nick Diaz fight-

Being a well-rounded fighter

These days in the UFC, it’s easier to find fighters who have a wider skillset, but even so, you’ll still find many that rely primarily on one tool over others, like Derek Brunson who is known for wrestling or fighters that rely on their kickboxing, like Israel Adesanya. For these pro fighters, they have found what they like and what works best for them in winning fights, and everyone, whether they just train in martial arts or compete have their own preference and there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that. However, at the height of his career, Nick was just as adept in his striking as he was with being a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu during a time in the UFC when a lot of the matchups were the typical striker vs wrestler-types of fights. Out of 26 of Nick’s wins, 13 of them were by knockout and 8 by submission, just to give a glimpse into his versatility. At the height of his career, being so versatile was a concept considered a  little more subversive and gave Nick yet another trait to make him stand out. This mentality fits in perfectly with JKD, because you never really know what your opponent may be capable of in a self-defense situation, which is why it’s so important to learn punching, kicking, trapping, grappling, and weapon that is taught at the school. In his most recent fight at UFC 266, we didn’t get to see any of Nick’s grappling skills, but he put on a great fight and gave out a lot of volume in punches to his opponent Robbie Lawler.

Foul tactics

When you think of both Nick and his brother Nate, one of the first things that probably comes to mind is the Stockton Slap, a move first made famous by big brother Nick that’s meant to be equal parts disrespectful as much as it is a strategy to make their opponent lose their composure. In pro fighting, slapping is allowed, so maybe foul tactics isn’t the best word to describe the technique, but it definitely applies to adapting in the moment and using unique strategies toward winning a fight and the same mentality applies in JKD which is intended for self-defense in the street. In a street fight, anything goes, so you have to be prepared for whatever your opponent throws at you and keep your focus in order to get out of danger. You also have to be willing to get creative and do whatever it takes to get home safely. Similar moves, like the slapping hook, definitely existed beforehand especially in boxing, but many never heard of it until they saw Nick using it. His adaptability and creativity have definitely been a factor in his highlight reel of wins over the course of his career.

Interception and offense as defense

Another component of Nick’s style that he is known for are his constant flurries of punches throughout fights that make it hard for his opponents to react to because of the constant volume being thrown. In his first fight back after an almost 7-year layoff, this trait was still well evident, with Diaz throwing over 183 punches in the first round alone. Former UFC champion and commentator, Daniel Cormier, noted during the fight, that “a lot of Diaz’s defense is rooted just in his offense, he doesn’t stop coming so he doesn’t leave that many openings for you.,” which in many ways ties perfectly into JKD and it’s focus on interception. Especially if you are defending yourself in real life, you definitely do not want to be passive or take on unnecessary damage by blocking punches, especially without gloves, so being active in order to get out of danger is a good way to get to safety.

Strong side forward

Many people may not realize this, but Nick is actually a righty southpaw, which gives him the advantage of having his strong side forward when he fights. JKD delineates from other combat sports and martial arts who generally stick to the traditional rules of orthodox and southpaw stances, however, even though a strong side forward stance is still considered uncommon, there are many famous fighters who fight that way, like Mike Tyson and Lomachenko. Nick Diaz is no different, and he has been known to have a powerful hook with knockout power. Having your strong side forward gives you a better hook, jab, and lead uppercut, and can fool many opponents, although Nick has always been known to have unorthodox and unique styles in his fighting that has been part in making him the MMA legend that he is.

Best Martial Arts Styles for Kids

By Jessica Militello If you are looking for a martial art to enroll your child in, you may be wondering which style is the best for them to learn and have fun while still being appropriate for their age. Every martial art has a list of benefits...

Best Martial Arts For Self Defense

Originally posted on 07/27/2018 Imagine being attacked. How would you protect yourself? Violence should be avoided, however, some circumstances leave one with no choice. Your body is the only weapon that you’ll have with you at all...

How do I choose a martial arts school for my child?

By Jessica Militello There are several criteria that are a good idea to look for when choosing a martial arts school for your kids. Obviously anytime you are investing time and money into something, you want to make sure it’s the right...

Should I Put My Kids in Martial Arts?

By Jessica Militello With all of the many choices of hobbies and sports to enroll your child in, it can become a little overwhelming to find the best one that both you and your child feel most confident about signing up for. Martial arts is a...

Understanding the Meaning of Karate Belt Colors

Originally posted on 08/11/2015 Updated: 5/19/2020 Most people have heard of someone who holds a black belt in karate or another martial art. These people are familiar with the skill and accomplishment it represents. However, there...

Will Martial Arts Help My Child Make Friends?

By Jessica Militello Martial arts has many benefits including learning self-defense, getting regular physical activity, and learning Bruce Lee’s teachings while training in Jeet Kune Do. But one benefit that both adults and children gain...

Can Martial Arts Help Kids Dealing with Anxiety?

By Jessica Militello Anxiety can be very uncomfortable and scary for anyone to deal with, but for parents who have children who deal with anxiety, it can feel frustrating to watch your kids struggle with it, especially if you are unsure of how to...

Cobra Kai Characters We Love and Hate

By Jessica Militello Warning: This article may contain spoilers if you have not completed the first three seasons of the show Cobra Kai. While fans of Cobra Kai anxiously wait for season 4 after a pretty intense season 3 finale, it’s...

Some of the Most Vicious Knee Knockouts in the UFC

By Jessica Militello Some of the most brutal and historic moments in the UFC have been from fights finished with knockouts using knees. Fans have a tendency to look at a fighter’s grappling, striking, and kicks, and can tend to overlook...

Do UFC Fighters use Jeet Kune Do?

Originally posted on 03/30/2021 By Jessica Militello Something that adds even more fun and excitement to watching UFC fights on Saturday night is recognizing some of the tools that fighters use from your own martial arts training. Some...

The Origins of Kickboxing

Originally posted on 12/29/2014 When most people think of kickboxing, they imagine some type of combination between American boxing and martial arts kicking. Surely, that’s what it can look like to an untrained eye, as it takes...

Is Jeet Kune Do the Best Self-Defense for You?

Originally posted on 03/27/2019 By Jessica Militello In Williamsburg, Brooklyn, one of the four locations of New York Martial Arts Academy, passersby regularly stop and take out their camera phones to capture an image of the massive,...

What Is Grappling in MMA?

Original Post: 01/06/2015 MMA, or Mixed Martial Arts, is a popular sport. Few people understand that it typically involves striking, wrestling, and grappling - basically fighting on your feet, getting your opponent to the ground, then...

Using Jeet Kune Do Footwork to Avoid Getting Punched

The art of Jeet Kune Do created by Bruce Lee integrates all facets of combat. Various styles are borrowed from boxing, fencing, and other types of fighting. But one of the things that makes it truly unique is Jeet Kune Do footwork. If you...

The 5 Most Effective Types of Takedown Defense

If you want to achieve success as a martial artist, you need to improve your takedown defense as a way to avoid being brought to the ground during a fight. When mixed martial arts (MMA) first started, skilled grapplers won many of the first...

Helpful Head Movement Drills for Self Defense

There’s a saying in the martial world that says, “Either you move your head or he’s gonna move it for you.” Effective head movement is used to avoid oncoming attacks and also to set up strong counter moves. It can...
Page: 1234567 - All