Trainer Cesar Gracie (center) says he is standing by protege, former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz (right). Photo Credit: Esther Lin/Strikeforce

By Joshua Molina

Nick Diaz is one of the best fighters in the world, but he learned the hard way on Wednesday that fighters don’t call the shots in the UFC. Dana White does and, if you cross him, he made it clear that you could fall fast and hard.

In Diaz’s case, he lost a major payday because he no-showed two consecutive press conferences to hype his fight with UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre. White cut him from the fight and replaced Diaz with another top 170 pound contender, Carlos Condit.

It’s a major blow to Diaz, who vacated his Strikeforce welterweight championship earlier this year to fight St. Pierre.  Diaz has been talking about wanting to fight St. Pierre for more than two years, when the fighters fought for different companies and the matchup seemed inconceivable.

Now the dream is over – at least for now – and Diaz may never fight in the UFC or Strikeforce again.

Diaz, who had a history of skipping media events during his tenure with Strikeforce, has not lost a fight since 2007 and has won 10 straight.

His trainer and mentor Cesar Gracie told FCF that, even though he is disappointed with Diaz, he stands by his student, and thinks White’s decision was too extreme.

“I wish they would have fined him,” Gracie said. “Nick has never heard of anyone being cut for missing a press conference.”

Gracie said Diaz was looking forward to the fight but may have been experiencing “social anxiety.”

“I wish it didn’t happen this way,” Gracie said.

Still, Gracie, one of the sport’s most admired Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu trainers and a member of MMA’s first family, said he won’t leave Diaz’s side during this difficult time.

“I am standing by him,” Gracie said. “He’s a loyal soldier.”

Gracie said the decision of whether UFC cuts Diaz altogether is “up to Dana White and I have no control over that.”

Gracie said “everybody makes mistakes.

“I am hoping he can still fight in the UFC and show the world how good he is,” Gracie said.