(Markham lands a vicious head kick on Brodie Farber while pondering that age-old question, is it still a tramp stamp if it has a vaguely threatening message?)
It turns out that we aren’t the only ones who are skeptical about Nate Diaz‘s chances to make it in the UFC as a 170-pounder. Rory Markham, who will welcome Diaz to the division at UFC 111 on March 27, recently told us he doesn’t see the Stockton, Ca. product having a lot of success in the welterweight class, partly because he lacks the punching power, but also because he’s trying to make the jump too soon.
"Moving up and down in weight always seems like a simple fix, but you have to have time to do it. He’s not taking a lot of time to go up, and I think that’s going to hinder him greatly. If you don’t take it slow, you don’t put on the muscle right. I understand his motivation for going up, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea for him. He didn’t exactly carry a bunch of power at 155, and there are some heavy-hitters up here in this weight class. That’s something I know I carry. I can say that whole-heartedly and humbly."
Markham, who’s 1-1 in the UFC and has his own striking power to thank for 11 of his 16 career victories, says he had a somewhat unusual reaction to being offered the fight with Diaz over the weekend.
"Monte [Cox] called me and said, ‘How about Nate Diaz?’ At first I thought, that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, he’s a lightweight. But then I remember hearing that he said he wanted to go up. So I said, ‘Absolutely. Are you kidding me?’ Then, for the first time in my career, I called him back a couple minutes later and he was kind of like, ‘What now?’ And I just told him, hey, thanks. Really, thanks. This is a win-win for everybody. Make it happen."
What intrigues him, says Markham, is the contrast in styles between Diaz’s striking and his own.
"With these four-ounce gloves you have to respect everybody’s power, but those little peppering shots that he throws, you can’t let them go by without answering them and answering them hard, which is the only way I know how to punch. I think my style is a great contrast with his. There’s already an air around this fight for me that I haven’t felt in a while."
As for whether a move up in welterweight will bring the desired career rejuvenation, Markham seems doubtful. He attributes Diaz’s eagerness to jump weight class to a little youthful exuberance.
"Him being at 155 and not having a whole lot of power, I’m not sure 170’s the answer for him. He’s a young guy and when you’re young you like to try things, you think you got it all figured out. I’m not an old man, but I’ll be 28 when I fight him and edging at right around ten years in this game, and one thing I’ve learned is it’s tough to go up in weight in just three months.
"…Every time I’ve watched him I felt like I knew which Nate I was going to be watching. He’s the same cumulative puncher. …He has to find something new. I’m not sure 170 is going to be what he’s looking for. Maybe a different approach to takedowns or submissions, but I think he’s going to find out that 170 is not the answer on March 27."
Markham also took a shot at Dan Hardy, who defeated him via TKO in his last outing and will be moving on to face Georges St. Pierre for the welterweight title on the same fight card. When asked if he thinks Hardy deserves the shot, Markham had no problem giving us his honest opinion.
"I’d be cutting my own throat if I said yes. There’s no way, come on. I don’t know Josh Koscheck or Jon Fitch or a lot of the welterweights personally, but I know what they’ve done. There are guys who have been in there a lot longer and had success against a lot bigger names. Hardy has put himself in a lot of good positions. He managed to get that Swick fight when it had already been billed as a number one contender fight, and strategically, the light has shined on him. I don’t think it’s going to shine on him against GSP. I think it’s going to be a pretty bad night for him."
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Comments
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:46
after nate finishes this dude they should give him GSP.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:46
If it weren't for this guy, we wouldn't have to put up with Dan Hardy getting a title shot. He's lucky Diaz has pillow hands.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:47
what's canadian for "don't be scared homey"?
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:49
completely off the subject.......just wondering who you guys got sunday, saints or vikes?
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:53
What's Canadian for "What does Canada have to do with this story in any way???" And the Vikings. Not a fan, but Favre is proving doubters wrong.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:53
nothing. but GSP is canadian. read my other comment
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:54
whitey Says: Wed, 01/20/2010 - 13:47 what's canadian for "don't be scared homey"? I believe it's: "Hey buddy, there's nothing to worry about," You need the Terrence and Phillip voice for this to work though.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:55
old brett has had his time. look what we did to warner last week. WHO DAT!
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:56
The direct translation is: "don't be scared hoser". The loose translation is: "it's not that cold you pussy, put on a toque".
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:57
@rex that seriously made me lol
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:58
his back seems to read "Bad Intenttons"...
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:59
@getupandkill nice. potato nation is on a roll.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 12:04
Kill yourself 831 Father. Worthless douche. Yea I see Nate having some trouble at 170 if he doesnt either change camps or change his training routines. Guaranteed he has a shot at subbing Markham though.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 12:14
831 Son or 831 Father? Loser must never comment on this site again Im going with pops.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 12:17
831 Son is to me what Frank Mir is to Brock Lesnar. An obsessive stalker. And wow, a highly trained submission fighter has a chance against a standup guy. Fantastic analysis. No one's ever thought of that ever.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 12:25
I think Don Zimmer can make 170
Wed, 01/20/10 - 12:28
shitbag>> He'll need to switch camps. Preferably somewhere they work the sprawl and avoid takedowns.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 12:33
I called Vikings v. Colts in the super bowl at the beginning of the season. I don't really like favre, but AP is a beast. Also I hope diaz get knocked out.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 12:35
Yea im the stalker? Shut the fuck up pussy. You just made that account a month ago and wanted to be a little internet groupie of mine. Therefore it is clear that you are the stalker homo. You would get your ass stomped if I ever saw you by the way. Fucking loser. Once again, KILL YOURSELF you troll.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 12:43
Hey 831 Son has returned to scum up another post.....831 Father its time for 831 Son to get Eilers'd
Wed, 01/20/10 - 12:45
Nate is going to get smashed so hard at 170, it's laughable. I can't wait to see someone walk right through those pitty-pat punches with a smile on their face, and knock him into the fucking spirit world. Hopefully that someone is Rory Markham.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 12:54
Nate Diaz should jump to heavyweight. Then fight against Brock.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 12:57
You know who doesn't care about 831 Father or Son, Canada, or Nate Diaz? Sean Penn. Sean couldn't honestly give a shit less about any of those. However, I'm slightly intrigued.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 01:15
That's what I'm talking about.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 01:18
I think Markham is coming off like a know it all douche. Dude, your 1-1 in the UFC, not 6-0. It also pisses me off with how much of a veteran he is acting like...dude you only have 5 more fights then him...Oh and Nate has never been knocked out, Rory has been knocked out 5 times.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 01:25
It doesn't matter Vikings or Saints because the Colts will beat either of them. :-) Diaz will get owned at 170.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 01:27
I think it only qualifies as a trampstamp if it has playful punctuation: "Bad Intentions?" "Bad Intentions ; )"
Wed, 01/20/10 - 01:28
Haha oh my god they are teaming up on me!! What losers you little trolls are. Like I give a shit what you pathetic people think. Funny though that I know for a fact I could beat the shit out of both of you clowns at once.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 01:42
@831 son How come no one likes you?
Wed, 01/20/10 - 01:55
Because I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night. No but in all honesty I dont really care. Probably because I berate people, cuss, and talk shit. Its not like they are going to run me off like we did HAL just because a few people despise me though.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 02:00
Well maybe you should calm it down a bit. I mean geez. Even your dad and uncle get on here and talk crap to you.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 02:02
Alright 831Son, now you are truly an internet TUFGUY. I doubt you can beat anyone up buddyboy. Dont forget that we hate your posts also. But I guess its love/hate, because without you saying something retarded daily, myself and others would not have so much fun. We liked Hal, by the way, so dont group yourself with him. Just focus on things that you are good at like pleasuring yourself anally, eating large bags of dicks, ya know, the usual.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 02:05
Lil FYI... 831 Mom won't be coming home tonight. I'm gonna teach her some ground and pound, if you what I mean. You two can reconcile over leftovers. Or go out and eat. Either way, don't bother her tonight.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 02:14
Shut up Freddy dont act like you dont write dumb ass shit on here. Fucking hypocrite. And Im done fighting with you over pretty much nothing, its just a waste of time, unless im drunk because then it brings extreme joy to me. And yeah, my whole "e-family" posts on here, get used to it, because they obviously arent going away.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 02:32
I don't like 831 Son, he is such a loser
Wed, 01/20/10 - 02:54
You arent alone Peter, and 831, Im sure that not all my posts have been literary gold but I would like to think they are far from "dumb ass shit" as you so eloquently put it.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 03:09
I don't dislike anyone here besides that dude that used to spam the comments section with the font size that got bigger each line so you had to scroll down for like 5 minutes to get to the end of his comment. I hated that guy for sure. Cool Guy if I remember right. Anyways, I looked up 831 because I was curious where it was at. I might of been thinking "if this is some redneck from the middle of West Virginia I might talk some shit......but 831's cities include Monterey and Santa Cruz. Two of my favorite spots so I must refrain. My area code borders your actually. It's too embarrassing to actually say or type but there are some fighting brothers who like to shout it out a lot and even write it on every blank surface they could find at a TUF like house. In last month issue of Fight! there is a funny tidbit on the "funniest moments inside the cage" Clay Guida was fighting one of my "neighbors" and his opponent kept yelling out his area code. Guida thought he couldn't tell time because thats what he thought he was doing lol, check it out.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 03:37
Nate wants to be his brother so bad IMO. UnfortuNATEly he's just not. He aint bad, he's just no Nick Diaz.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 05:18
So now we've got 2 Pillow Punch Bros at 170? I'm sure his title run in UFC will be as successful as Nick's.
Wed, 01/20/10 - 11:37
I pretty much agree with everything Markham said. Nate Diaz should stay at 155 and concentrate on getting better at wrestling.
Thu, 01/21/10 - 02:57
Two fucking oh nine! bitches!
Fri, 01/22/10 - 07:38
I nominate El Guapo for a best writer Oscar for his comment: "Lil FYI... 831 Mom won't be coming home tonight. I'm gonna teach her some ground and pound, if you what I mean. You two can reconcile over leftovers. Or go out and eat. Either way, don't bother her tonight." That shit was GOLD.
Fri, 01/22/10 - 11:20
Portland - I'm not sure what seemed douchey about that interview. Markham always comes off as respectful. His analysis is right on. Nate has no business moving up to a weight class when he was too weak for the one he was at. If he put on mass, over a 6 month span say, fine, he might have a shot. He's just proven too weak thus far in his career. I see a lot of posts on this fight giving too much credit to Diaz in this fight. Markham should knock the piss out of him. Only caveat being Markham has had trouble with taller, longer fighters, but those all had more power than diaz.
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