Cesar Gracie has released an official statement addressing Nick Diaz’s no-show at the 2012 World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, Calif., over the weekend.

The Expo featured six BJJ “superfights” with Diaz scheduled to compete against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Braulio Estima in the main event on online pay-per-view. When it came time for the headline bout, Estima came out onto the mat, sat down on his knees and waited.

After a few minutes passed, it became apparent his opponent Nick Diaz was not going to show up. There is no telling how many Nick Diaz fans had bought the pay-per-view for the sole reason of watching the former Strikeforce welterweight champion pit his ground skills against one of BJJ’s all-time greats.

There are no telling how many Diaz fans were left let down once again by him not showing up, disappearing without a trace, with no explanation as to why. It is a recurring theme with the 28-year-old fighter. Three days later, his coach, Cesar Gracie, explained what happened:

“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.”

To get a full understanding of the situation from Cesar Gracie’s point of view, it is advisable to read the entire statement at www.graciefighter.com. It basically comes down to Braulio Estima not making weight the day before the match. He did make weight the next day, but by then Diaz had left.

Cesar does go on to say that Nick’s lack of communication with his coach and his team is inexcusable and will be dealt with privately.

It was not that long ago Nick Diaz fans were let down when he failed to appear at a press conference for his scheduled title fight with Georges St-Pierre, and the fans were robbed of one of the most anticipated fights in MMA history.

How many Nick Diaz fans who thought he won against Carlos Condit were let down after an immediate rematch was cancelled when it was discovered the Stockton brawler tested positive for marijuana?

Nick Diaz is one of the greatest fighters the sport of MMA has ever seen. And he obviously makes money fighting. But as far as being a true “professional” fighter — well, it is in name only.

ProMMAnow.com was on the scene in Long Beach for the 2012 World Jiu-Jitsu Expo. Be sure to check out our video interview with Cesar Gracie which took place earlier in the day before anyone knew Diaz would not be competing.

5 thoughts on “Cesar Gracie releases statement regarding Nick Diaz no-show against Braulio Estima”
  1. are we setting up a page to vote on who thinks Cesar Gracie is telling the truth and who thinks he is covering for his guy? Isn’t that called “enabling behavior”?

  2. Why does Diaz get blamed for the GSP fight not taking place ?, he could of shown up for all the pressers wearing a pink tutu and the fight still would never of happened CAUSE GSP BLEW HIS F”N KNEE OUT, thats what killed the fight, so quit harpin on the Diaz killed the fight crap, he won’t kiss Dana’s ass and for that he will forever be in the Dana dog house, props to the dude for not caring what any of you haters think, the guys still doin better then ya’ll and your callin him down ??

  3. Shut up.. shady business with the brazilians looking out for their own. You will get your fight, Diaz will kick that guys ass all over the octagon when the time comes. Welcome to mma Estima learn how to fistfight prettyboy

  4. from renzo gracies mouth…. read this and shut up with the diaz slander. You haters are worthless and stupid as shit~ think right please.. you spread ignorance cause you hate the guy.. read this……
    renzo’s words………………………………………
    I have to be honest, if there’s someone to blame, it’s me. Even though it was my expo, I had one guy working on it and he was good at organizing it and putting it together. The only thing he’s not good at is dealing with fighters. From what I understand, Junior called Cesar Gracie’s room the night previously at midnight and said Braulio Estima would be 10 pounds overweight. You have to understand, Nick Diaz was already giving up too much fighting that caliber of fighter in BJJ. For Nick to take the match, it shows the kind of guts he has. It ended up turning out the way that it did because the guy dealing with the fighters is an amateur, and he didn’t understand the emotions the athletes go through.”

  5. That no show at BJJ expo was disrespectful to braulio estima, nick would have got tapped the fuck out anyway! Probably realised it and shit it and made a sharp exit! Man I wish he gets to fight GSP just so that I can see him being grounded and pounded, couldn’t even beat Carlos Condit

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