Veteran MMA coach Cesar Gracie has claimed that former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey may have influenced Nick Diaz toward a difficult lifestyle.
Gracie believes Rousey introduced Diaz to alcohol, which allegedly put him on a troubling path.
Speaking to Legacy TV, Gracie shared his thoughts on Diaz’s struggles over the years.
“He [Nick Diaz] was the best I’ve ever seen,” Gracie said.
“But like I said, once he started to hang out with … I think Ronda Rousey got him drinking. You know what I mean? She would come up before she was famous, she’d hang out and everything. But she could drink, it wasn’t her fault, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t drink. He can’t do things like that. And that set him on a different path.”
Nick Diaz, a former title challenger and one of the most recognizable faces in MMA, was slated to return to the Octagon at UFC 310 in a matchup against Vicente Luque.
However, weeks before the fight, Diaz was removed from the bout under undisclosed circumstances, with Themba Gorimbo stepping in as his replacement.
Gracie also spoke about his personal connection to Diaz and the path his student has taken over the years. “All of a sudden his friends were Hollywood friends. His friends were Las Vegas friends, they were kinda weird. He went on a path … but I can’t go on that path. That’s not my path, I won’t follow him onto that path,” Gracie said.
Despite his concerns, Gracie emphasized his continued support for Diaz. “I got love for the guy — I love him,” Gracie continued. “At 16, I trained him; I was like a father to him, if you wanna say that, an older brother, father, whatever. But I have to wait for him to want to be on this other path. He’s gotta do what makes him happy.”
Diaz has been absent from the cage since UFC 266, where he suffered a third-round TKO loss to Robbie Lawler in their long-awaited rematch.
Gracie hinted that fighting may no longer be Diaz’s priority and suggested he might find fulfillment in teaching martial arts. “I think he’s an amazing teacher,” Gracie said. “I would like him to maybe share and get a love for teaching, and maybe have his own academy and teach.”
As Diaz continues to navigate his future in both his personal and professional life, it’s clear his long-time mentor hopes for his eventual return to stability. Meanwhile, Rousey, who Gracie referenced in his comments, has yet to address the allegations.
Stay tuned for more updates on Nick Diaz and the latest developments in MMA.
