Women in combat sports are nowadays a common thing albeit not exactly welcomed by many. Among those that frown upon women’s participation besides Khabib Nurmagomedov is another MMA great – and one that dated other fighters at that.
On a recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, former MMA fighter Gina Carano recalled a past meeting with Nick Diaz. During the encounter, Diaz told her that he’s not a fan of women’s fighting. In return, Carano called him an “old fashioned”.
“I remember fighting on the same card as Nick Diaz. And he was sitting next to me and of course, I was just nervous because I absolutely adored him. Still do. I think he’s amazing. I just haven’t seen him in like a decade,” Carano said.
“So, we’re sitting there before a fight having our post-weigh-in dinner and he was like, ‘I gotta tell you, I don’t really like women fighting.’ Obviously, he didn’t say that. He’s like, ‘I don’t like what you do, I don’t like women fighting’ and I was like, ‘that’s okay, maybe you’re just a little old fashion.’”
Carano continued, “I was like, ‘Do you think my dad likes us? Do you think anybody in my family likes me fighting?’ And he was like, ‘Oh, old fashion. “
“Okay, so I’m just old fashion’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, you just might be a little old-fashioned.’ And then he was like, pulling out my chair and opening my door – to the next level. He was so sweet. He just needed to be told it’s okay, you don’t have to like it. It’s old-fashioned.”
Nick Diaz was among the first big-time fighters that agreed to train with Ronda Rousey. Back in 2012, when women’s MMA is still in its early days, Rousey was invited to train at Cesar Gracie BJJ with the Diaz bros in Stockton, California.
Rousey’s fighting prowess is also admired by the younger brother, Nate Diaz. In The Pony Hour podcast with Tony Hinchcliffe, he explained how fighting Rousey is a tough experience even for him.
“If I’m messing around or playing around [with Ronda Rousey] like, ‘Oh, I’m just training with a girl,’ you’re going to get tapped out,” Nate said. “She like, put me in a move one time too and I had to get super man-strong and hold on for it.”