UFC fan-favorite Nick Diaz admits he was ‘freaked out’ by Robbie Lawler prior to their first welterweight bout at UFC 47 in 2004.
Lawler, 39, was highly touted as the next best thing at welterweight, possessing devastating KO power and ruthless aggression.
Diaz headed into the bout as a considerable underdog, with most pundits predicting a highlight-reel KO victory for Lawler.
Diaz shocked the world when he started egging on and taunting Lawler in the octagon, with the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt urging the latter to stand and trade.
Diaz won the fight via second-round KO and, aside from being freaked out by Lawler before the fight, admits that he used trash talk to spook his opponent out.