McKenzie beat Marcus LeVesseur with his favorite submission Tuesday night at UFC on FUEL TV 3, finishing the bout at the 3:05 mark of the first round. The Alaska native had won nine straight by first-round guillotine coming into “The Ultimate Fighter 12″ then made it an even 10 with a win over Aaron Wilkinson in the live finale.

Losses to Yves Edwards and Vagner Rocha followed, and McKenzie made a few changes. He’s training with the Diaz brothers. And his once-plentiful facial hair is gone.

“I was starting to look too old,” McKenzie said after the event, which took place at Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va. “It was turning gray. I’m only 24 years old, and I’ve got gray hair all over. So I finally had to shave everything and start to look my age.”

That’s one indirect sign of the newer, maturing McKenzie. The bigger change is behind the scenes with his new training partners.

“Nathan Diaz helped me a lot with diet,” McKenzie said. “I called him yesterday even after I made weight and asked him what to eat. He’s a very smart guy, him and his brother Nick Diaz. I’ll be making the move from Las Vegas to Stockton very soon.”

So far, he hasn’t caught the Diaz brothers with his signature move.

“Practice is practice – sooner or later, I’m sure I’ll catch them,” McKenzie said. “But overall, a lot of those guys up there just rolled me up into a ball. They’re very good grapplers.”

LeVesseur, a distinguished wrestler making his UFC debut, tried to turn the tables and go for a guillotine of his own.

“He actually did go for a guillotine in a modified style for a little bit,” McKenzie said. “I was just relaxing, kind of seeing what he had. I could tell he was kind of stressed and tight and tense. He was going a little bit too hard. I was just hoping I could weather the storm and catch him later down the road, and it worked out.

“I watched his videos, and he didn’t see as comfortable as I am in there. He’s a tough guy for sure. I don’t want to take anything away from him, I wish him a good career.”

McKenzie, now a relative Octagon veteran, didn’t feel the same tension despite coming into the cage on the dreaded two-fight skid.

“I was a lot calmer for this fight than most of my fights. There’s always pressure any time you’re fighting somebody in the cage, but I was actually pretty calm. A lot of people are like, ‘This is your big shot, this is the UFC, this is your chance.’ To me, every fight’s just a fight. I don’t look at too much too seriously.

“You take life too seriously and you turn gray.”

 Below is a compilation of events in chronological order.  I included the behind the scenes problems we had to let you, our supporters, know how things deteriorated.

Facts

In March I received the disturbing news from Rilion that Junior had broken his agreement with him. Rilion stated to me that Junior was registering all World Jiu-jitsu Expo names under his name alone and was no longer taking his phone calls. When contacted by me, Junior stated that he would no longer honor his financial obligations to Rilion because “Rilion was doing nothing and treats me like one of his clerks”.
He then went on a tirade about Rilion which I interrupted and reminded him that Rilion was my family member and I would not listen to someone speaking negatively about him.

This rift left me in a dilemma. My instinct was to sever ties immediately. Rilion was my original jiu-jitsu instructor and his reputation as an honest person was impeccable. On the other hand we had already committed Diaz and Caio Terra.  Our removal would destroy an event Renzo provided all of the funding for.

I consulted with Rilion who advised me to move forward with the event. He was the one that had brought Renzo into this project and convinced Renzo to fund it. He also still believed in the idea of an American tournament that paid the best BJJ guys on the planet to showcase their skills. We agreed to move forward without him since at this stage Junior had entrenched himself and his removal was impossible. Lastly Rilion warned me that Junior was not to be trusted and would undoubtedly try to cheat me and Renzo.

In early April I got the call from Junior asking what I thought of a Braulio Estima vs Nick Diaz matchup. I had heard of Braulio and knew he was a formidable jiu-jitsu practitioner. I was under the impression that Braulio competed in the close to 200lbs weight category.
When I asked Junior he assured me that Braulio could weigh in as little as 175 lbs right before the match.

I presented his information to Nick who accepted the matchup and seemed happy to go against the top BJJ player in the world at that weight. Nick started training for the match and I brought up several BJJ black belts to compliment his training.

Looking through some of Estima’s youtube videos, it was soon discovered that he had in fact been planning on entering upon a career in mma. We wondered if the match with Diaz was a way to create a buzz around him and get him signed with a prominent organization.

I called Junior who assured me Estima would not be fighting in mma and that he had spoken with him and been assured he had given up on the idea of ever fighting. Junior reiterated, “Cesar I spoke with Braulio, the guy is in his 30′s, he has a family and doesn’t want to live that type of life at this stage in his life…etc”

Despite all of this Nick was still going to compete. He brought up Kron Gracie and prepared himself. Around this time I was informed by Junior that Braulio wanted to weigh in the day before and not right before the match as is the custom in IBJJ competitions and Abu Dhabi. At the time Nick was about 186lbs so I consented to both guys weighing in at 180lbs the night before.

Nick boarded a plane on Friday for Long Beach having cut 6 pounds for the weigh in that night. On his way there I got a call from Junior telling me Braulio would not be making weight!  ”Cesar Braulio is complaining about the weight cut. Can we have him weigh in tomorrow? He can’t make the weight tonight how about 185 in the morning?”

Nick arrives in Long Beach to the news that there will be no weigh ins that night. As a professional with over 30 fights this was the final straw. The disrespect and total lack of professionalism given him convinced him he was at a circus not a professional event.

At 3:20 in the morning I received a text from Junior that Braulio would in fact make the 180lbs weight class at 10:00AM.  With no other option available I said fine I’ll check with Nick in the morning. At 10:00AM Braulio did weigh in at 180lbs but by that time Nick had already left.

Opinion
As a Brazilian I love Brazil but not all things Brazilian. In the last decade I have witnessed Brazilian cronies running the IBJJF and making it impossible for Americans to get a fair shake when competing against their Brazilian countrymen. These cronies have instituted rules to where if you miss weight by even half a pound you are disqualified and not refunded your entry fee. They gladly keep your money and treat you like crap in your country because they can.  One of these cronies (Junior) decided to bend all the rules for Braulio Estima and treat Nick Diaz like crap. Sorry that didn’t work out here.

As for Braulio I still respect him as a great BJJ artist. As far as calling Nick out for a mma fight, he knows that is impossible because Nick is signed with the UFC and in mma you have to make weight when they want you to. Not when you want to.  If Braulio ever finds success in mma then he can mention Nick’s name for a fight. Right now he should respect the man.

Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately.

Renzo and I have spoken and we are committed to continuing with this otherwise awesome event….without the services of Junior.

It should be noted that Nick paid to St Jude’s Children’s Hospitable the sum of what would have been his entire purse.

Thank you,
You have my apologies and my respect
Cesar Gracie

sherdog.com  

Nate Diaz did what 23 previous men could not: he finished Jim Miller.

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 winner submitted Miller with a second-round guillotine choke in the UFC on Fox 3 headliner on Saturday at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Diaz (16-7, 11-5 UFC) cinched the submission and coaxed the tapout from the New Jersey native 4:09 into round two, as he won for the third time in as many outings.

“I’m happy to come out and perform for you guys,” he said. “[Miller] is a great fighter. I have nothing bad to say about the guy. I had a hard time being motivated to train for this fight, so I had to [think about fighting] behind enemy lines.”

Miller’s game plan became clear from the outset, as he initiated the clinch and tried to engage Diaz in close quarters. It was ineffective, and once the two men separated, Diaz established his superiority on the feet. The 27-year-old Cesar Gracie disciple floored Miller with a straight left hand late in round one. The AMA Fight Club ace withstood the blow, but his face was bloodied and he was struggling to keep pace.

Diaz did not let him breathe in the second. He battered him with the high-volume punching attack that has become his calling card. Miller (21-4, 10-3 UFC) staggered forward and soon found himself trapped in the choke. Diaz adjusted his grip, rolled into full mount and sealed the deal there, perhaps cementing his position as the No. 1 contender for the UFC lightweight crown.

“He had my number. Nate is a tough guy. I knew that coming in,” Miller said. “He was just landing strikes and hurting me. [The game plan was to apply] pressure and not let him use his range, but he found it and went to work. Nothing was really surprising. He deserves that [title] shot. There shouldn’t be anything in his way now.”

mmaweekly.com

Nate Diaz and Jim Miller headline Saturday’s UFC on Fox 3in East Rutherford, N.J., but first, they and the rest of the UFC on Fox 3 fighters stepped on the scale on Friday afternoon to make their bouts official according to the New Jersey Athletic Control Board.

UFC president Dana White has pegged Diaz for a title shot with a victory over Miller, while Miller finds himself standing a rung or two below his foe on the lightweight ladder.

“If Diaz wins, he gets a title shot; if Miller wins, he is probably still a fight or two away,” said White at Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference.

Neither Diaz nor Miller had any trouble making weight. Both tipped the scale at the 156-pound limit for a lightweight non-title tilt.

“This is a huge fight. You’ve got two of the baddest men on the planet getting locked inside of a cage,” said Miller after stepping off the scale, showing the utmost respect for Diaz. “Wherever this fight goes, however it goes, you guys are in for a treat.”

Diaz returned the respect, saying, “He’s tough. He’s a very good opponent. I train hard with the best team in the world at Caesar Gracie. I’m here to represent my team in California.”

Leslie Smith got fight of the night honors with an exhilirating performance last night at the Invicta FC show. Smith’s fight with Kaitlin Young was heralded as one of the greatest women’s mma fights of all time. The fight was the most watched of the evening, peaking at over 100,000 views for the new organization. Below is Sherdog.com’s commentary..

The night was not without some small measure of controversy, as Kaitlin Young and Leslie Smith went tit-for-tat for 15 minutes, resulting in a split draw in their bantamweight contest.

Pleasant Hill, Calif.’s Smith was the aggressor throughout the bout, changing stances, attacking with power hooks and lunging at her Minnesotan foe with kicks to the legs, body and head. Young, however, preferred to stay on the outside and work her jab, picking off Smith as she charged forward into range.

Judge Kevin Champion gave the round to Smith, awarding her the bout 29-28, while Henry Gueary gave it to Young, giving her a 29-28 scorecard. Deciding judge Victoria Miller-Pence gave the final round a 10-10 for a 29-29 scorecard, creating a split draw. Sherdog.com saw the bout 29-28 for Leslie Smith.

By Ariel Helwani – Video Reporter and Writer

Apr 10, 2012 – Braulio Estima, one of the best Jiu-Jitsu players in the world, will welcome Nick Diaz back to the world of BJJ.

The Diaz vs. Estima BJJ superfight, which will be contested at 180 pounds, will take place at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on May 12 in Long Beach, Calif., according to WJJE officials…..

The 31-year-old Estima has won a plethora of BJJ competitions over the past decade. He most recently defeated Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in a super-fight at the 2011 edition of the prestigious Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling Championship and won gold medals at the 2009 ADCC tournament in the 88kg and Absolute divisions. He is currently training with the Blackzilians in South Florida in preparation for his MMA debut later this year.

Diaz, a black belt under Cesar Gracie, hasn’t competed in a BJJ match in two years. He has never been submitted in BJJ competition.

Diaz hasn’t fought since his loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 in February. According to his manager Cesar Gracie, he is still waiting to find out when his Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing will take place after he tested positive for marijuana metabolites following the fight.

The first-ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center. In addition to the Diaz-Estima super-fight, fans attending the Expo can take part in free seminars with BJJ stars Renzo Gracie, Roger Gracie, Robert Drysdale, Rodrigo Comprido and Andre Galvao.

For more on the Expo, including how to purchase tickets, visit the WJJE official Web site.

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

By Ariel Helwani – Video Reporter and Writer

Follow @MMAFighting on Twitter, and Like MMA Fighting on Facebook.

Apr 3, 2012 – While Nick Diaz’s MMA future may still be in doubt, the former Strikeforce welterweight champion has decided to return to his Brazilian jiu-jitsu roots.

The World Jiu-Jitsu Expo and Cesar Gracie, Diaz’s trainer and manager, have confirmed that Diaz will compete in a BJJ super-fight at the WJJE on May 12 in Long Beach, Calif.

According to Gracie, Diaz wanted to enter one of the WJJE’s tournaments, however, Expo officials chose to have him only compete in a super-fight. No opponent has been signed just yet.

Diaz, a black belt under Gracie, hasn’t competed in a BJJ match in two years. Gracie said the UFC, “usually doesn’t want (Nick) competing (in BJJ) if it’s near a fight, (but) he has no fight lined up.”

Gracie added that he expects to find out this week when Diaz’s hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission for his positive drug test following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit will take place. He teased last week via Twitter that Diaz’s MMA days aren’t over, despite retiring following the loss to Condit.

The first-ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center. In addition to the Diaz super-fight, fans attending the Expo can take part in free seminars with BJJ stars Renzo Gracie, Braulio Estima, Roger Gracie, Robert Drysdale, Rodrigo Comprido and Andre Galvao.

For more on the Expo, including how to purchase tickets, visit the WJJE official Web site.

Jake Shields Considering Return to Middleweight

When fighters talk about shifting weight classes, the vast majority of them talk about dropping down a weight class. It’s commonplace for fighters to go as far down as they can to have the greatest size advantage possible over their competition.

UFC welterweight contender Jake Shields is taking a different tack. He’s looking at making the move up.

Fuel TV’s UFC Tonight on Tuesday night reported that Shields is moving up to the 185-pound division later this year, likely in July or August.

Shields, however, told MMAWeekly.com that the move up to middleweight is not yet definitive. He said he has changed up his weight training routine and diet to see if things move in the right direction for him to make the move, but he’s not ready to totally commit until he gives his body a chance to respond.

Shields has held titles both at welterweight and middleweight, so a move back up isn’t heading into foreign territory. Shields, in fact, was the Strikeforce middleweight champion before moving over to the UFC in 2010, having successfully defended his belt against Dan Henderson.

Such a move would be a first for Shields in the Octagon, where he has competed solely at welterweight up to this point.

Ronda Rousey Adds the Diaz Brothers to Her Training Routine

The next time Ronda Rousey defends her Strikeforce bantamweight title, she may have developed a new way to mean mug her opponent.

Following a brief vacation that she earned by submitting Miesha Tate in early March, Rousey is already getting back into the gym, and she’s adding some new training partners to her routine.

Rousey will be heading to Stockton, Calif., to work with Nick and Nate Diaz as well as the team at Cesar Gracie jiu-jitsu as she starts preparing for her next title defense.

“Yeah, I’m going up there from the 3rd to the 16th (of April) and it’s going to be the first time ever since I started doing MMA that I’m going to be training for an actual extended period of time away from my core camp, who I’ve always been with,” Rousey told MMAWeekly Radio recently.

Rousey got a chance to roll with Nick Diaz previously, and she says that traveling to different gyms during her judo career was a regular event, but she hasn’t done it since beginning her journey into MMA.

“When I did judo I used to go around all the time, like every month or so I would go away for a week or two weeks to go train somewhere else,” said Rousey. “For some reason it’s something I never did in MMA, so they invited me to come train up there, and they’re good at a bunch of things that I need to work on so I’m super excited. It’s going to be the first time I’m training away from home in a long time.”

While Rousey will definitely pick up some top notch training alongside Diaz and the other fighters in Stockton, she’s not leaving her home camp by any means.

Rousey has been working with her team and coaches in Los Angeles since she started, and she’s an L.A. girl for life.

She does however hope to keep the Diaz brothers and their team as regular training partners as she gets ready for her next title defense, presumably against Sarah Kaufman later this year.

“Oh yeah definitely, I hope it does,” Rousey said when asked if working with the Diaz brothers could become a regular part of her camp. “But I love L.A., I’ll never move away from here.”