Nick Diaz once competed in a bare knuckle MMA fight in what appears to be a local gymnasium, and against an opponent who remains unknown to this day. The footage takes place at some time early in the MMA star’s career but it’s clear from the way he fights that he already possesses a great deal of skill. This should not come as much of a surprise to those in the know however, as footage also exists of his younger brother Nate Diaz competing in a similar style of match at the age of just 17.
Both Diaz brothers represent Cesar Gracie and it was not uncommon in the 90s and early 2000s for members of various Gracie schools to pit their styles against opponents in competitive matches with limited rules. They actually still train with Cesar Gracie to this day and the man continues to be an important figure in both Diaz brothers’ lives. He was the driving force behind their development and growth in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and one of their main trainers throughout their extensive MMA careers.
Nick Diaz used his phenomenal grappling skill along with his penchant for boxing, to allow him to compete at the very highest levels of MMA over the years. Diaz travelled around the world plying his trade and fought for almost every major MMA promotion in the world, including a stint as the StrikeForce Welterweight world champion and a pair of UFC title-fights in the same division. Diaz has become a fan-favorite over the years and is still able to be a major draw in the MMA world to this day, despite being out of action for over half a decade.
The footage of Nick Diaz competing in a bare knuckle MMA fight in his youth was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of Jiu Jitsu World:
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