Nick Diaz names 5 greats that would be on his MMA Mount Rushmore

Nick Diaz is one of the certified legends in the sport of mixed martial arts. Diaz has been a fixture in the sport for the better part of the last 20 years and he’s still going.

Diaz made his MMA debut back in 2001 and last competed against Robbie Lawler in 2021. Diaz has been teasing with a UFC comeback but his last showcase left the fans wondering if this would really be the best move for Diaz.

According to his controversial coach Cesar Gracie, Diaz underwent a surgical procedure where two of the discs in his neck were replaced. He might be interested in a UFC comeback despite the fact he’s 39 years old. His MMA record stands at 25 wins 10 losses and 2 no contests.

Diaz recently guested in an interesting video. He made an appearance on the channel of a chiropractor Beau Hightower.

While undergoing an adjustment Diaz answered a series of questions including who he would put on his MMA Mount Rushmore.

“Sakuraba, Genki Sudo, you know, Rickson Gracie, Royce Gracie, what is that four?”

“Wanderlei Silva”

Diaz went on to share:

“I liked watching PRIDE more than I like watching UFC back in the day.”

Diaz shared he also liked how people treated him in Japan when he competed there and answered a lot of other trivia.

As a real legend of the game, it’s no surprise that the greats Diaz looks upto are real trailblazers in the world of MMA. All of these names are people who shaped the landscape of MMA today.

Rickson Gracie was the most prominent competitor in the Gracie family but went on to compete in Japan due to internal power struggles in the Gracie family.

Royce Gracie represented the Gracie family in the first couple of UFC tournaments and brought jiu-jitsu much of the reputation it has to this date.

Genki Sudo is a Japanese martial artist who pioneered leg locks among other things. Sudo has a win over Royler Gracie and a plethora of other prominent MMA legends.

Sakuraba is another veteran of the game. He was known as the Gracie Hunter due to the fact he submitted a number of Gracie family representatives. Sakuraba was in talks to face Rickson Gracie but Gracie retired in the fall out from his son’s tragic passing.

Wanderlei Silva made his name in both UFC and Pride. He was active from 1996 up until 2013 and briefly unretired from 2017 until 2022. Silva holds the record for the most wins, knockouts, title defenses and longest winning streak in PRIDE history.