Anderson Silva on Nick Diaz no-show: 'The fans are the ones who missed out'

At first, Anderson Silva (33-6 MMA, 16-2 UFC) seemed surprised that Nick Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) no-showed the open workouts for Saturday’s UFC 183.

Silva apparently doesn’t know his opponent all that well.

“What? Nick isn’t here?” the ex-UFC middleweight champ exclaimed after finishing a spirited workout at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Three days prior to the pay-per-view event, Diaz reportedly missed a flight to Las Vegas – although his bags made it – and once again missed a media obligation in advance of a big fight.

Silva, who’s returning from a yearlong absence due to a horrific leg injury, was surprised, but also seemed to understand Diaz’s plight, saying he “had the same problem.” He said Diaz’s absence was “no disrespect,” and added he hadn’t worked out any harder so as to make up for it.

“No, I always put on a show like that, every time I do an open workout,” Silva told MMAjunkie.

Diaz’s miss, however, was undoubtedly a drag to fans, who showed up in droves to watch the fighters hit bags and get in a workout, inching closer to an anticipated showdown that could bring Silva a second opportunity to win back his middleweight title.

Diaz is fighting a class above his normal welterweight division, returning after almost two years away from the sport he admits he hates at times.

“The fans are the ones who missed out,” Silva said via his longtime translator and co-manager Ed Soares. “It’s just unfortunate for the fans.”

Diaz infamously no-showed a press conference for a welterweight title fight against now-former champ Georges St-Pierre, prompting UFC President Dana White to replace him with Carlos Condit. In an interview with Jim Rome, White today blamed himself for putting Diaz in a situation that was likely to lead to PR headaches.

Diaz’s agent has assured the UFC he’ll be in Las Vegas today.

For more on UFC 183, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.