Nick Diaz is one of the most controversial and interesting fighters in UFC history, being someone that is always guaranteed to make a splash, no matter what he does. He will always get fans talking about him and inside the octagon, Diaz is always capable of putting together a brilliant fight.

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There is no denying that he is a talented MMA fighter, and he is somebody that has got great support from around the world. His recent performance at UFC 266 has got the MMA world talking about him once again, but with plenty of new fans now learning about him, there are lots of things that people should know.

10 Hospital Brawl

Nick Diaz supporting his brother in the crowd
Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Network

One famous story about Nick Diaz takes place outside of the octagon and inside a hospital. Following his fight against Joe Riggs at UFC 57, which he lost, the two men were taken to hospital to get medical attention afterward.

However, they didn't relax when they got to that point and the two of them ended up brawling inside a hospital room. They had to be ripped apart by security in the building, highlighting just how personal their issues were with each other.

9 UFC 137 Press Avoidance

Nick Diaz fighting BJ Penn Cropped

Nick Diaz has always been a colorful character, which has often drawn him the wrong type of attention from people. Ahead of his UFC 137 fight with George St-Pierre, Diaz decided to simply not show up to any of the press conferences or interviews to promote the fight.

It's something that is heavily frowned upon in the world of MMA, as this is a major part of any PPV. Because of that, he was taken out of the title fight with St-Pierre and was instead placed into a contest against B.J. Penn, totally changing the card.

8 He Is Vegan

Nick Diaz weighs in Cropped
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A vegan diet is something that is becoming increasingly more common around the world at the moment, but a lot of people likely don't associate it with MMA fighters. Because of how physical the sport is and how much it demands from a person, few fans are aware that many fighters are now vegan.

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Nick Diaz is one of them, as he has chosen to follow a vegan diet, with this being something that he is passionate about and believes in. This proves that it is possible to be a top-level athlete with a vegan diet, which might just encourage more people to go down that path.

7 He's An Undefeated Boxer

Nick Diaz swinging a punch inside the Octagon Cropped
Gary A. Vasquez - USA Today Network

Most people know Nick Diaz for his MMA career, but he has also tried his hand at boxing as well. Much earlier on in his life, Diaz competed in the sport, having one professional fight to his name, which he did win, making him an undefeated boxer.

This took place back in 2005 where he fought Alfonso Rocha in a four-round fight which he ended up winning via decision. However, he didn't then go on to pursue boxing as a career due to his ability within MMA.

6 His Brother Is Nate Diaz

Nate Diaz at UFC 263 Cropped

While this is something that a lot of hardcore MMA fans will be very aware of, when it comes to casual audiences, they may not make the connection between the two fighters. However, they don't just share a last name, as Nick and Nate Diaz are brothers.

Nate has had a very successful career in his own right, which is something that he is no doubt proud of. The two brothers have both made names for themselves in the MMA world, and they are incredibly close.

5 He Has An Academy

Nick Diaz celebrates at UFC 137 Cropped
Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Network

While Nick Diaz's career is far from over at the moment, he is still happy to give back to the industry as he tries to teach the next generation of MMA fighters. He runs his own academy in Stockton, California, which he does alongside his brother.

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They offer a variety of classes, from boxing and wrestling to Jui Jitsu, which is a style that the two are familiar with. They also run classes for children specifically, giving them the basics and the fundamentals while allowing them to enjoy the sport.

4 Fight Life Documentary

UFC 183-Silva vs Diaz Cropped
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MMA fans are always keen to learn more about what the life of a fighter is like and what steps they have to take to become one of the best in the world. That is something that Nick Diaz helped to teach people when he was part of the documentary, Fight Life.

This was released in 2013 and it follows the lives of several MMA fighters, giving audiences a great look at exactly what they do in training and the build to a fight. Diaz is part of that documentary, which gives audiences a very different look at him as a person.

3 He Was Handed A Five-Year Suspension

Nick Diaz fighting at UFC 183 Cropped
Jayne Kamin-Oncea - USA Today Network

When it comes to UFC, the company is incredibly strict with any form of drugs, and there are major consequences for those who break the rules. That is something that Nick Diaz found out in 2015 when he tested positive for marijuana.

This led to him being suspended from the company for five years, with the authorities coming down hard on him. While this did end up being reduced to an 18-month punishment, it was a period of time that Diaz is unlikely to forget.

2 He Was A Champion With Strikeforce

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UFC is often seen as the pinnacle when it comes to MMA, but it isn't the only place where fighters can make a living. Nick Diaz is best known for his fights when working for Dana White, but he has also competed for Strikeforce as well.

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Diaz had plenty of success for the company too, as he is a former Strikeforce Welterweight World Champion, showcasing his ability to dominate no matter where he worked, with this only adding to his legacy.

1 He Has His Own CBD Company

UFC 266 Diaz vs Lawler Cropped
Gary A. Vasquez - USA Today Network

Nick Diaz is well known for being a fan of certain substances, and that is something he is truly passionate about. During his time away from the octagon due to his suspension, he put his passion into creating a business and developed his own CBD company.

This is something he created alongside his brother, with the company being known as Game Up Nutrition. It showcases that as well as being a great fighter, Nick Diaz is also capable of being a businessman.