Three of Top-Ten Welterweights are Veg

Of the top ten ranked Mixed Martial Arts welterweights, there is a vegetarian, a near vegan, and someone who is trying out veganism. Number nine ranked Nick Diaz recently stated on recent conference call: "I try to eat a raw, vegan diet... I’ve been doing that since I was 16, 17 years old so I’m pretty used to it. It helps me not feel like shit when I’m training all day long.” (source*) In the next couple of months, a vegan or near vegan will be headlining a night of fights for Strikeforce, and a lifelong vegetarian (Jake) will be headlining a night of fights for UFC.

From the Sherdog website:

. #2. Jon Fitch (23-3, 1 NC) After besting Thiago Alves for a second time, Fitch was hopeful he would get another crack at the UFC welterweight crown. That opportunity will be going to Jake Shields. Instead of another title shot, Fitch draws former two-division champion B.J. Penn at UFC 127 on Feb. 27 in Sydney, Australia.

#4. Jake Shields (26-4-1) In light of Georges St. Pierre’s domination of Josh Koscheck at UFC 124, Shields now knows exactly what daunting task lay in front of him in his effort to win the UFC welterweight title. The major questions are simply when the fight will take place and whether it will land at UFC 129 in Toronto come April 30.

#9. Nick Diaz (23-7, 1 ND) Strikeforce remains hopeful that Diaz will be in action at its Jan. 29 event in San Jose, Calif. In the meantime, the public war of words between Diaz and rival Jason Miller continues to rage, as the two try to negotiate a potential catchweight bout via the media.

Thanks to contributor Pierre Grzybowski & Jon Camp for the tip.