Nate Diaz & Chris Avila | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #649

TL;DR

Nate Diaz and Chris Avila discuss their Stockton roots, fighting careers, and upcoming May 16th Netflix fight card appearances.

Key Points

• 1.Nate Diaz and Chris Avila met at a tint shop in Stockton. Chris's father had his truck tinted at Nate's family's shop when Chris was around 14-15, leading to a training partnership that began when Nick Diaz invited Chris to spar.
• 2.The 'Stockton Slap' originated with Nick Diaz. Nick used it in his second UFC fight when he slapped Robbie Lawler, establishing the signature move that became synonymous with the Diaz brand.
• 3.Nate describes Stockton as the core identity behind his fighting persona. He emphasized that representing where you come from is essential, citing his gym's lineage tracing back to Caesar Gracie's fight team.
• 4.Nate's fight with Mike Perry headlines the May 16th Netflix card through MVP promotion. Nate chose Perry because Perry has been the biggest name outside the UFC, knocking out fighters like Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Jeremy Stephens.
• 5.Chris Avila fights Brandon Jenkins on the same May 16th Netflix card. Jenkins is an MMA veteran who fought in UFC and PFL; it will be Chris's return to MMA after his last MMA fight in 2021.
• 6.Neither Nate nor Chris has ever been finished in MMA or boxing. Nate disputed a TKO loss to Josh Thompson, arguing he was chasing Thompson around the cage, and said Thompson is still calling him out years later.
• 7.Eminem referenced Nate Diaz in a rap lyric. The line went: 'Nate Diaz got the world by the trachea in a chokehold and a sleeper,' which Nate described as all he ever needed in life.
• 8.Nate argues jiu-jitsu should be mandatory in schools, comparing it to learning to swim. He believes most people walk around unaware they cannot defend themselves, and that training also builds social skills and confidence.
• 9.Nate's pre-fighting job involved working a burger grill and selling weed simultaneously. At around 14, he barbecued tri-tips at a spot called Bonenburgers and would deliver drug orders between flipping meat.
• 10.Training camp for the Netflix fights will involve a full multi-discipline roster. Nate plans to bring in Joe Schilling for kickboxing, wrestling coach Nick Savvar, boxing coach Richard Perez, and about a dozen pro fighters for sparring.
• 11.Nate described fighting anxiety not as excitement but as fear. He compared pre-fight feelings to the Gladiator scene where Russell Crowe watches a soldier shaking and urinating before battle, saying 'excited' is the wrong word entirely.
• 12.Joe Rogan advised Theo Von to do two podcast episodes per week. Rogan told him about a year prior that if he committed to that schedule, 'nobody will be able to stop you,' which Theo credits for his growth.