Nick Diaz - "Diablo"

Nick "Diablo" Diaz was born on August 2nd, 1983 in Stockton California. After lettering on his high school swim team, Diaz began martial arts training, in part to help protect himself from local bullies. After several years of training in various combat arts Diaz entered his first professional tournament: IFC Warriors Challenge 15. He has since become a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the famed Cesar Gracie.

Mike Wick, Diaz's first opponent, fell prey to a triangle choke in that first fight. Diaz became an IFC champion in just his second fight, winning a decision over Chris Lytle for the IFC United States Welterweight title at IFC Warriors Challenge 17. Fight promoters were quick to invite Nick to the upcoming Ultimate Athlete's King of the Mountain, a one-night tournament aimed at IFC fighters. After winning his way to the final bout, Diaz lost by TKO to Jeremy Jackson. Only one year later Diaz challenged Jackson to a rematch and easily defeated him by TKO in the first round. This fantastic proving was all the reason that the UFC needed to finally give Diaz a contract.

Ironically, Diaz's first fight in the UFC octagon was the final in a trilogy against Jeremy Jackson. Jackson proved a formidable foe but "Diablo" was able to submit him with an armbar in the final round. Diaz returned to the octagon at UFC 47 to challenge heavy favorite Robbie Lawler. Diaz chased his opponent around the ring during the first round and was able to connect with a very well placed right cross in the second round, knocking Lawyer out cold.

After losing a bout to Karo Parisyan at UFC 47, Nick went on to defeat his next two opponents Drew Fickett and Koji Oishi at UFC 51 and UFC 53 respectively. The stage was set for Diaz's most compelling fight to date – a bout versus Diego Sanchez at The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale event. There was reported bad blood between the two over an exchange of insulting emails and Diaz's public comment that Sanchez and his teammates on The Ultimate Fighter reality show were being given an easier path to the UFC then its amateur fighters.

The two came into the fight with a good amount of bad blood between them. They reportedly exchanged heated e-mails before and after the official signing of the fight, which was spurred on by Diaz's public opinion that Sanchez and the rest of The Ultimate Fighter participants were being given an easier path to the top compared to the rest of the fighters in the UFC. Sanchez ultimately won the match by unanimous decision but Diaz continued his public disparagement during the post-fight interview.

Diaz's next fight was no less dramatic. Before the match with Joe Riggs at UFC 57, both exchanged heated words, fueling the flames of an already intense rivalry. The official weigh-ins saw a physical scuffle between the two broken up by Dana White and other UFC executives. The fight itself was a grueling affair that saw Riggs win by unanimous decision. After both fighters were taken to a local hospital for observation, Diaz reportedly punched Riggs in the face. Riggs proceeded to attack Diaz and continued to hit him until police arrived and broke the pair up. No charges were laid. Diaz continued his losing streak versus Sean Sherk with "The Shark" winning by unanimous decision at UFC 59 and the UFC promptly ended his contract.

Diaz signed up for the International Cage Fighting Organization in their inaugural fight night, defeating Ray Steinbess in a unanimous decision. Before he could take on his next bout in the ICFO, Diaz received a request from UFC management asking him to fill-in at UFC 62 against John Allessio for Thiago Alves, who had pulled out of the match due to illness. Allessio proceeded to pull-out as well, leaving Diaz to fight Josh Neer. Neer fell victim to a submission move and Diaz went on to defeat Gleison Tibau at UFC 65, seemingly securing his return to the UFC.

Diaz went on to fight in the PRIDE Fighting Championship but, after testing positive for THC, was stripped one of his most impressive wins to date. It was determined that the drugs were in Diaz's system prior to his non-title fight with Takanori Gomi in which he won by submission.

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Anderson Silva

Andrei Arlovski - "The Pitbull"

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - "Minotauro"

B.J. Penn

Brad Blackburn - Bad

Brandon Vera

Bryan Vetell

Chris Lytle - Lights Out

Chuck Liddell

Dan Christison - The Sandman

Dan Henderson

David Tank Abbott

Denis Kang

Diego Sanchez

Don Frye - The Predator

Ed Herman - Short Fuse

Eric Esch - Butterbean

Ernesto Hoost - Mr. Perfect

Fedor Emelianenko

Forrest Griffin

Frank Shamrock

Gabriel Gonzaga - "Napao"

George St. Pierre - "Rush"

Gilbert Yvel - The Hurricane

Hayato Sakurai

Heath Herring - The Texas Crazy Horse

Hermes Franca

Ian Freeman - The Machine

Igor Vovchanchyn - Ice Cold

Jason MacDonald - The Athlete

Jason Von Flue - Live Wire

Jeff Joslin - The Inferno

Jeremy Horn - Gumby

Joachim Hansen - Hell Boy

Joey Villasenor

Jon Fitch

Josh Barnett - "The Babyface Assassin"

Josh Burkman - "The People's Warrior"

Josh Koscheck

Karo Parisyan

Keith Jardine - The Dean of Mean

Kendall Grove

Kenny Florian - KenFlo

Lyoto Machida

Mac Danzig

Marcus Aurelio - Maximus

Mark Coleman - The Hammer

Mark Hunt

Mark Weir - The Wizard

Marvin Eastman - The Beastman

Matt Hamill - The Hammer

Matt Hughes

Matt Lindland

Matt Serra

Mauricio Rua - "Shogun"

Michael Bisping

Mike Swick - "Quick"

Mirko Filipovic - "Cro Cop"

Nam Phan

Nick Diaz - "Diablo"

Patrick Cote - The Predator

Paul Buentello - The Headhunter

Peter Aerts - The Dutch Lumberjack

Phil Baroni - The New York Bad Ass

Quinton Jackson - "Rampage"

Randy Couture - "The Natural"

Rashad Evans - "Sugar"

Renzo Gracie

Ricardo Arona

Rich Franklin

Richard Clementi - No Love

Roman Zentsov - The Russian Hammer

Sam Hoger - The Alaskan Assassin

Sean Sherk - "The Muscle Shark"

Shinya Aoki

Shonie Carter - Mr. International

Spencer Fisher - The King

Takanori Gomi

Tim Sylvia - "The Maine-iac"

Travis Lutter - The Serial Killer

Urijah Faber - California Kid

Yoshihiro Akiyama

Yves Edwards