Since being signed in mid 2011, Nick Diaz has been a bit of a problem child for UFC president Dana White. After being granted an immediate title shot at UFC 137, Diaz blew off the first round of press conference. That absence lost him his title fight against Georges St. Pierre. When he got a chance at the interim title at UFC 144, he blew that opportunity too with a failed post-fight drug test.
Despite all that, Dana has continued to reward Diaz, this time with another title fight at UFC 158. Characteristically, Diaz hasn’t changed, but White knows who he’s dealing with (via MMA Mania):
“This is a fight that [Diaz] wanted, he really wanted this fight bad,” said Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White (via MiddleEasy.com). “And Georges St. Pierre called him out. He’s getting it. I expect Diaz to be there. Nick Diaz does not return my calls or texts. Nothing. It’s Nick Diaz. He doesn’t have to call me, he doesn’t have to text me; but, he needs to show up to the press conference.”
So, as long as he can actually fulfill his contractual obligations, Diaz will get his chance at the belt. He’ll face off against the Welterweight king, Georges St. Pierre at UFC 157. The event will take place on March 16 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.