If you’ve followed the sport long enough, you’re aware of the “gangster” image that both Diaz brothers portray. It’s an image that’s won them a legion of fans and turned them into huge superstars.
But according to former referee “Big John” McCarthy, that Stockton bad-boy persona has created a wrong impression among fans. In a recent episode of his Weighing In podcast with Josh Thomson, McCarthy talked about the “real” Nick Diaz.
“Nick is as tough as they come. I love the guy, and I think… he’s such a good guy and he’s got a persona that people… the perception of what he is and who he truly is, it’s two different things,” he said.