The Man Nick Diaz is Fighting Saturday in Las Vegas

Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

Takanori Gomi, the #1 Lightweight Fighter in the world.

Honestly, I think Diaz can take this guy. Gomi has a great record and has fought top competition but Diaz has a major size advantage — he’s three inches taller and naturally about 15 pounds heavier. Gomi may have bulked up for the fight but I doubt he’ll match Diaz for muscle.

Diaz could certainly get KO’d but he’s faced bigger, more dangerous strikers and not gotten knocked out and he has the major advantage on the ground.

I think some PRIDE snobs are going to be surprised by the outcome of this one. Nick Diaz agrees:

I don’t think he has anything to offer that I haven’t seen before. I think I’ve fought tougher guys than him. The guys I’ve fought hit harder, were better wrestlers and better grapplers. What does he think he’ll be able to do to me? I’m not intimidated at all and if he thinks he can knock me out that’s fine. I think he’ll be the one getting an ass beating so I hope he’s ready.

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About the author

Nate Wilcox

Nate Wilcox is the founding editor of BloodyElbow.com. As such he has hired every editor and writer to work for the site. Wilcox’s writing for BE is known for its emphasis on MMA history, the evolution of fighting techniques and strong opinions. Wilcox developed the SBN MMA consensus rankings which were featured in USA Today from 2009 to 2011. Before founding BE, Wilcox was a political operative working for such figures as Senators John Kerry and Mark Warner and an early political blogger. He is the co-author of Netroots Rising, a history of the political blogosphere from 2003 to 2007. Wilcox also hosts the Let It Roll podcast on music history for the Pantheon Podcast Network.