James Brydon

I understand it, but I'm still a little surprised the UFC went ahead and changed the date of its Montreal show because of a proposed boxing event.

When I first heard the UFC was going ahead and changing the date of its Montreal show because of a proposed boxing event, my first thought was:

"Seriously?"

Considering the UFC's contempt for boxing -- more specifically, Dana White's contempt for boxing -- the last thing you'd expect them to do is acquiesce to their schedule. Even if the particular event in question is a super-fight involving arguably boxing's most marketable star, Floyd Mayweather.

I also initially thought it was a mistake. The UFC shouldn't be afraid to go head-to-head with boxing, the sport they claim is a dying one, or at least one whose heyday has past. It seems to me to be a bad PR move.

But then I thought about it again, and considered all the considerations in making this move. And I decided maybe they deserve some props. By doing this, they are actually showing a great deal of respect to things outside the image and profitability of their own sport.

First off, whether intentional or not, they are showing respect for another sport, which on its face is commendable. More importantly, they are showing respect to their own fans, especially those who also happen to be boxing fans, and that's a very good thing.

Indeed there are other examples of leagues adjusting their schedules to accommodate another's. For example, the NFL opts not to have a Sunday nighter the first week of the World Series (it's in the NFL's contract with the network carrying the game, which is currently NBC). This is to avoid such a conflict with a game their organizers know millions of sports fans will want to watch. This is on a different scale than a one-time PPV event, but it serves to demonstrate there is precedent and value to such a move.

Before I go any further, let's not kid ourselves: the main motivation for postponing UFC 113 is surely a business one. They know they'll get better PPV numbers if the Montreal event takes place another week.

"We were trying to not go the same night as boxing," White said in announcing the change of date, showing their good intentions.

Of course, then he had to go on and say this:

"But these (expletive) guys can't get out of their own way. I have never seen anything so unorganized, selfish and dysfunctional as boxing. It's a joke!"

Leave it to White to take the opportunity for another pot-shot at the sport he loathes.

Personally, I wish the UFC hadn't changed the date and simply stood its ground. But for a number of reasons, it's a very good move.

Speaking of PR concerns, Strikeforce has some work to do with one of its main stars; namely, the colourful Nick Diaz. Very much like his brother, UFC fighter Nate Diaz, he's not exactly the first guy you want to put in front of microphone if you're looking to be diplomatic. At least not without prepping him well.

And prepping Nick thoroughly is obviously something they neglected to do on Wednesday, when he was part of a conference call ahead of the promotion's event next Saturday in Miami. When asked for opening remarks, Diaz was dumbfounded.

"Am I supposed to have something to say?" he asked.

Then when asked what he thought about fighting Marius Zaromskis, he replied: "Why? What is this (expletive)? ... We’re supposed to talk about what? He’s a good fighter, whatever. Anybody fighting at this level is a good fighter."

Ah, a Diaz brother can always be counted on for a good laugh.

He did say he had just woken up and didn't know he wasn't going to be on a conference call. He also attributed his lack of trash-talking, something he typically partakes in, to the fact he'd never been on the same conference call with an opponent before.

To his credit, he did have some worthwhile things to share, like the fact that he's happy to be fighting back down at welterweight as opposed to middleweight.

"I'm happy to fight at 170. I have been waiting for a long time to fight in this weight class. The last two fights (against Scott Smith and Frank Shamrock) were not my idea."

And then when asked about Jay Hieron's claims that he's avoiding him, Diaz said, "I'm just fighting who they want me to fight. I can say GSP is a p---y because he doesn't want to fight me. I'm ready to fight anybody."

There he goes again, being ever-so-diplomatic.

Strikeforce really needs to do a number on him. It kind of makes me think of what the UFC has had to do with Brock Lesnar.

Speaking of that, how's that going, I wonder? Those "Third World" comments Brock made about the Canadian health care system certainly made for great PR.

That's a topic for another day. For now, I'm just glad Brock is okay. And I'm looking forward to his next fight. And Nick's. And the Montreal card, regardless of the date.