Diaz: Commentators, Judges Robbed Me

Nate Diaz believes he was robbed.

Just two days removed from his split decision loss to Gray Maynard at UFC Fight Night 20 in Fairfax, Va., the 24-year-old Stockton, Calif., fighter pointed the finger at numerous culprits, including the sport’s media, UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg, and the bout’s judges.

“I sat down. I watched (the fight),” Diaz told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show on Wednesday. “I just think I won all together every round, personally, and that's about it. I think I won. I mean the only people that thought I didn't win were the judges and Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan.”

Diaz took particular umbrage with UFC commentators Goldberg and Rogan, who, along with the sport’s media, framed the bout around the title implications it held for Maynard.

“They go on there and they talk about him (Gray Maynard) fighting for the title before (and) that's what people are already thinking about,” said the lightweight fighter. “‘Gray Maynard's getting ready for a title fight.’ They didn't even talk about what I'm doing or anything. They're talking about Gray's big night the whole show, you know? I think they put a negative outlook on me from the beginning just talking so negative how I was doing from the start, how I don't hit hard and how he was doing.”

Diaz, the winner of “The Ultimate Fighter 5,” argued that the longtime commentary team had an unfair influence over the public, including the three judges officiating the bout.

“The commentary screwed me; the whole judges had a negative outlook on me since the beginning of the fight,” he said. “Nobody watched the fight. They listened to the critics. It's easy for Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg to sit there in a chair and say what's going on when they're not getting in there. They're not throwing punches.”

Diaz also urged fans to watch the bout again with their TV volumes turned down.

“Watch the fight closely. Watch the landed shots. I'm noticing when I'm landing shots, Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg are criticizing the shots and criticizing what I'm doing while I'm hitting him and talking about how good Gray Maynard is while I'm hitting him,” said Diaz. “Watch how much Gray Maynard backs up. Judge the fight, since it's standing up the whole time, on who threw the most punches, who landed the most punches, who threw the most kicks and who landed the most kicks. There were no takedowns so you might as well just judge it like it's a boxing match. There was no clinch… turn the mute button on (for) that fight. Don't listen to the bulls--- the commentators are saying… I just want to say I think I got robbed.”