Nick Diaz expected more from himself in fight against B.J. Penn

Nick Diaz took the fight to B.J. Penn at UFC 137, defeating the former UFC champion and pushing himself into a title fight with UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre in early 2012.

Diaz, who won via Unanimous Decision over “The Prodigy,” was not completely pleased with his performance according to trainer Cesar Gracie. The win was the eleventh consecutive for Diaz since a loss via doctor’s stoppage to K.J. Noons in 2007.

“Nick wasn’t pleased, because he didn’t have a good boxing sparring for this fight, someone good on the stand-up,” said Gracie, in a recent interview with Tatame. “On his mind, it wasn’t perfect. But I thought so. He didn’t like it. He’s so perfectionist, he thought he could’ve prevented some punches. He doesn’t only want to win, he wants to be satisfied about it.”

Penn called Diaz the best boxer in MMA before the fight, and with the amount of punches that hit the face and body of Penn, it was obvious after the three-round war that Diaz is the best boxer.

“Nick Diaz is a great fighter, and he really proved to have a big heart,” Gracie said. “He’s a complete fighter. Nick is secure, he knows he trains with the best guys in the world. He believes (in) his abilities).”

Diaz-GSP is expected to take place Feburary 4 at UFC 143 for the title.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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MMATraining Take: Diaz is going to get a different GSP, as St-Pierre is upset about the comments Diaz made concerning his knee injury and not pushing for the UFC to allow Diaz to fight for the title at UFC 137. Diaz, however, is one of the best fighters St-Pierre will have faced during his current title reign, so the fireworks are sure to be plenty when these two collide.