Mixed martial arts has featured some of the most unique, complex, and entertaining personalities in combat sports history. Nick Diaz, brother to the equally notorious Nate Diaz, is widely known for his outspoken personality, awkward mannerisms, and insatiable appetite for providing fans with some of the most memorable moments in MMA and out of the Octagon.
The 38-year-old Stockton-native has competed in the world's most prestigious MMA promotions including Strikeforce, Dream, EliteXC, and UFC. He recently returned to the Octagon after a six-year layoff to rematch Robbie Lawler in a five-round brawl that showcased the former Strikeforce champion's resilience and forever bond with MMA. Despite coming up short, Nick Diaz has undoubtedly established himself as a future MMA Hall of Famer who will never be forgotten due to his numerous accomplishments as a lifelong competitor in combat sports.
10. Best: Nick Diaz defeats Marius Zaromskis via TKO Round 1 (January 30, 2010)
Diaz's title reign as the Strikeforce Welterweight champion began on January 30, 2010, when he took Marius Zaromskis at Strikeforce: Miami and turned in a performance that fans would not soon forget. After being dropped early in the first round and engaging in survival mode, Diaz was able to recover to his feet where he started to pepper Zaromskis with crisp 1-2 combinations that paid dividends as the fight progressed.
With less than one minute left, he bullied Zaromskis throughout the Octagon using his versatile combinations landing heavy shots to both the face and body before clipping Zaromskis with a short right hook that sent the Lithuanian native to the canvas and ended the bout in favor of Diaz. Shortly after, Diaz was crowned the new Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and began a reign that would last until his departure from the promotion.