Nick Diaz Tells HDNet's Inside MMA "I Don't See Much of a Future in This Sport for Me;" Manager Reveals Boxing Contract

Nick Diaz Tells HDNet's Inside MMA "I Don't See Much of a Future in This Sport for Me;" Manager Reveals Boxing Contract

Plus, Royce Gracie, Gilbert Melendez, and Jorge Santiago - TOMORROW NIGHT, Friday, April 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET on HDNet

DALLAS, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- "Inside MMA" is locked and loaded this week with an all-star line-up including four current and former world champions and a special guest host.

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The program will feature complete coverage of last weekend's Strikeforce(TM) event including an interview with Strikeforce(TM) Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz - fresh off his TKO victory over Paul Daley.

"[Strikeforce(TM)] doesn't have anybody else for me to fight right now, I'm better than all these guys they have," says Diaz. "The guys they have ranked above me, I'm sure they don't want to fight me. I don't see much of a future in this sport for me. I honestly don't, especially if there's not a whole [lot] of money going on."

Separately, Diaz's manager Cesar Gracie tells "Inside MMA" that Diaz has signed a boxing contract to fight Fernando Vargas later this year. The contract is awaiting Vargas's signature, but Gracie says that unless Dana White offers Diaz a fight with Anderson Silva, Nick's next fight will definitely be in boxing.

A preview clip of this interview is available at:

http://www.hd.net/blogs/2011/04/inside-mma-preview-nick-diaz-to-quit-mma/

Kenny Rice is joined at the anchor desk this week by special guest host Michael "The Voice" Schiavello.

They are joined on the panel by UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie, Strikeforce(TM) Welterweight Champion Gilbert Melendez, and former Sengoku Middleweight Champion and new UFC signee, Jorge Santiago. Some highlights include:

*Gracie tells the panel that he is excited about the UFC returning to Brazil and talks about who he wants to fight at "UFC Rio."

*Fresh off his dominating victory over Tatsuya Kawajiri, Melendez says he's ready to unify the Zuffa Lightweight titles.

*Santiago talks about his return to the UFC and breaks down his fight with Brain Stann.

*Schiavello announces the next superstar guest set to go toe-to-toe on the popular "Voice Vs." series on HDNet.

And, Ron Kruck continues his "Inside America's Gyms" series with a stop at American Martial Arts in Whippany, NJ, home to the toughest brothers on the planet, Jim and Dan Miller.

"Inside MMA" premieres Friday at 9:00 p.m. ET on HDNet as part of three and a half hours of original MMA programming:

#HDNet Fights Vault @ 8:00pm ET - featuring the Best of Sengoku 10

#Fighting Words with Mike Straka @ 8:30pm ET - featuring Brock Lesnar

#Inside MMA @ 9:00pm ET

#HDNet Fights: In This Corner: Shinya Aoki @ 10:00pm ET

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including the network's Emmy Award winning HD news feature programs, "HDNet World Report," and "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries, airing as part of the "HDNet 'Round The World" series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2011.

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com). HDNet works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, XFC, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC and more. HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," goes one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport. HDNet also features live coverage of regular season games from the United Football League.

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In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, and Verizon FiOS and in Canada via Access Communications, Cogeco, Rogers, Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct.

The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights and facebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.

SOURCE HDNet

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CONTACT: Colette Carey of HDNet, +1-303-542-5576, ccarey@hd.net

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