UFC president Dana White believes he knows what Nick Diaz’s (Pictured) New Year’s resolution is. No, it’s not to stop smoking weed (who are we kidding at this point?). It is to attend all mandatory “beauty pageants.” Now that Diaz has been granted another go at reigning welterweight king Georges St-Pierre, White thinks Diaz isn’t dumb enough to ditch pre-fight press conferences to promote their blockbuster bout like he did for UFC 137. “I would find it very hard to believe that he wouldn’t [go to the pressers],” White stated over the weekend. “You know, after what happened last time, he’s been sitting out for so long. This is a fight that he wanted, he really wanted this fight bad, and Georges St-Pierre called him out. “He’s getting it, so yes, I expected Diaz to be there.” The rivals were slated to meet in the most anticipated 170-pound affair in MMA history at UFC 137. However, Diaz was yanked from the pay-per-view broadcast after ditching back-to-back “beauty pageants” to promote the October 2011 extravaganza. The organization ultimately rescheduled the contest for UFC 147, but St-Pierre was forced to bow out with a torn ACL. They will now collide March 16th at UFC 158 – barring any injuries or missed media conferences, of course. “Listen, the thing about Nick Diaz, Nick Diaz shows up for fights,” White added. “Nick Diaz shows up and fights his ass off. He’s not a big fan of the pre-fight promotion, but you have to do it. You have to do it. Whether you’re Nick Diaz or Anderson Silva, Whoever you are, it’s in your contract. You can actually be cut. We can cut you for that. “I’ve proved that you will be punished if you don’t do it. You either won’t fight the big fight you’re supposed to fight, or you’ll be cut.” As far as staying in constant contact with Diaz to ensure he minds his p’s and q’s, White claims he needs to contact Mr. Telephone man because there’s something wrong with his line. “Nick Diaz doesn’t return my calls, my texts, nothing,” White said. “It’s Nick Diaz. You don’t have to call me, you don’t have to text me, but you do have to show up for the press conferences. “I’d be blown away if he did it twice. It just wouldn’t be a good move.” The shootout takes place in GSP’s backyard at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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January 02, 2013
