Strikeforce: Nick Diaz Criticizes The Unified Rules

Nick Diaz Strikeforce

Strikeforce Champion Nick Diaz

Nick Diaz is not a fan of Strikeforce’s new rule change.

Under the Unified Rules of mixed martial arts, elbows to the head of a grounded fighter are legal.

Prior to last month’s purchase of Strikeforce by Zuffa LLC, parent company of the UFC, there was one distinct difference between the two organizations’ rules.

Elbows to the head of a grounded fighter were not allowed in Strikeforce.

The first change to the promotion following the transaction was to implement the Unified Rules in Strikeforce, allowing the use of elbows to the head of a grounded fighter.

Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz has been a critic of the new change.

“I like it because it just reminds me of the way the Pride rules used to be because that’s the way mixed martial arts should be because it favors mixed martial artists and the more technical grappler and the more technical stand up fighter,” said Diaz about Strikeforce’s old rules.

“It’s in favor of everybody except for maybe the wrestler or a stronger guy who is going to hold control.”

According to Diaz, elbows to the head on the ground makes fights less exciting.

“The elbows just kind of help it so that they’re not going to stand the fight up. Because if the guy is holding you, then they’re like, ‘okay, let’s see some action,’ so the guy doesn’t let go, he just throws those short elbows. I think it’s boring. That’s the only reason why I have criticism towards the whole thing,” he said.

Diaz actually does have another reason to dislike the rule change. Elbows cause cuts.

“It’s cutting me up and I’m not getting paid as much as boxers are, and they’re not getting cut as much as me now because I’m being elbowed by a less technical fighter,” said the welterweight champion.

“That’s not what you want to see. You want to see more entertainment in this sport. That’s what you want to see. I’m just looking in everybody’s best interests. That’s just how I feel about all of that.”

Diaz defends his title against Paul Daley on April 9. Co-headlining the “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley” card, Gilbert Melendez puts his lightweight title on the line against Tatsuya Kawajiri. The event airs live on Showtime.

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