The Diaz brothers, Nate and Nick have once again found themselves as the centerpiece of attention with increasing concern regarding their well-being. Particularly with rumors surrounding chronic illnesses, battles with addiction, and the possibility of CTE. These concerns have been amplified by their public appearances, with some observers noting changes in their speech patterns and behavior, particularly in Nate Diaz, whose slurred speech leading up to his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul in August 2023 raised alarm bells.

Meanwhile, Nick Diaz, who was scheduled to fight Vicente Luque at UFC 310, pulled out for undisclosed reasons, further fueling worries about the brothers’ health. Moreover, his mental health struggles were further underscored by his girlfriend, Kayla Ramos, who suggested he might be dealing with addiction. On a recent podcast, ‘Team Sean O’Malley’—comprising Tim Welch, Joe Riggs, Tommy McMillen, and JJ Kruljak—discussed the Diaz brothers.

The duo have spent over a decade in the brutal world of combat sports, absorbing countless headshots and punches, which undoubtedly takes a toll on the brain. Tim Welch emphasized the physical demands of their fighting style. “I mean, dude, both of those guys, with the style they have. Not just the damage they take in fighting, but also sparring in boxing,” said Welch. “They’re taking 10, 15 shots just to stay on you. Guys who pressure you, who aren’t super fast or athletic, they have to eat those shots and keep coming.”

If we go by the stats, then the Stockton duo has only been knocked out a combine 3 times. Nate was KOed by Josh Thomson way back in 2013 while Nick was stopped by Jeremy Jackson back in 2002 and most recently by Robbie Lawler in what could very well be his swansong. However, the stats regarding the total number of strikes absorbed by the younger Diaz brother don’t look very good. His ability to absorb damage and keep coming forward is almost cartoonish.

Diaz had absorbed a total of 415 significant strikes in his first 15 outings. However, his recent scraps against the likes of Jorge Masvidal, Leon Edwards, and Conor McGregor saw him take 353 strikes. Masvidal also weighed in on the issue, suggesting that after two decades of fighting, Nate Diaz, who began his journey in combat sports back in 2004, may have sustained significant damage to his head. But is there truth to these claims?

While it’s undeniable that the brothers have taken an incredible amount of damage in their careers, Nate Diaz himself has spoken out about these concerns. Let’s see what the younger Diaz brother had to say.

Nate Diaz clears off all doubts regarding CTE

The Diaz brothers have certainly taken their fair share of brutal blows in the UFC over the years, with elbows and knees frequently landing during their intense battles. However, Nate Diaz has maintained that he has never been overpowered by his opponents’ strikes. “I’m not just walking in like a meathead into punches. I’ve never been knocked out. I’ve never even really been fuck**g stunned stupid or nothing.” Diaz asserted during his appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show.’

He also addressed the concerns about his speech patterns and behavior, which some have linked to CTE. Diaz insisted that he has always spoken this way, stating, “These fu**ers are talking about how I talk and I’ve got fu**ing CTE or some sh*t. I’m like, ‘Bro, I’ve been talking this way the whole motherf***ing time’. It’s got nothing to do with getting hit or none of that. I’m smarter now than ever.”

However, not everyone is convinced. Dillon Danis, a BJJ grappler, pointed to Nate’s role as a cornerman during UFC 310, which many felt went disastrously. Diaz was in Kron Gracie’s corner in his matchup against Bryce Mitchell. Despite his instructions during training, the fight ended in a knockout loss for Gracie in the early seconds of round 3. Danis, who watched the video of Diaz shouting instructions, remarked, “He’s speaking CTE.”

While Nate has openly rejected the speculation surrounding his health, claiming that his speech has always been this way, the question remains: do the Diaz brothers suffer from CTE? The issue of CTE in combat sports continues to be a topic of discussion with athletes like Jose Aldo, Shane Carwin, and even Georges St. Pierre being some prominent victims. What do you think? Are the Diaz brothers affected by CTE, or is this simply a case of people jumping to conclusions based on their fighting style and behavior?