If there is one thing everyone knows about American mixed martial artist Nate Diaz, it is that he cannot take jokes. He maintains a serious demeanor and is quite easily offended. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter has demonstrated this time and again.
Once, he removed his shirt while trying to pick a fight with another The Ultimate Fighter 5 contestant.
Why? Because he was offended by some amusing graffiti on the wall. Something similar happened at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in California, where Nate Diaz lost his temper at a fictitious character.
Yes, he was faced by Renato Laranja at the event when some mean things were said and the BJJ star’s switches flipped.
The renowned BJJ star had a little face-off with Renato Laranja at the Brazilian World Jiu-Jitsu Expo. Renato Laranja is no other than Rhasaan Orange’s alter ego. Orange, a renowned American actor and comedian, is best known for his fabrication and portrayal of the fictional Brazilian character called Renato Laranja.
The character often exploits the common stereotypes that are associated with Brazilian culture and Jiu-Jitsu. The jokes are usually received with laughter and appreciation.
However, a 2012 interaction with Nate Diaz at the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Expo went wrong. When Laranja said a few offensive jokes, Nate was not tolerant. He has a strong public reaction, which baffled Rhasaan Orange.
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Rhasaan Orange is also a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but the world of Jiu-Jitsu celebrates him for his funny yet relatable portrayal of Renato Laranja.
Orange was an actor on Sesame Street as a child. He studied under Eddie Bravo and received a black belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, but he never grappled professionally.
While Orange is a charming person to be around, Laranja is an arrogant persona. The character is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion and has a thick accent. Laranja means orange in Portuguese, which explains why Rhasaan chose the name.
The fictional carioca jiu-jitsu celebrity is a faux Jiu-Jitsu champion who has become a viral legend. He is portrayed as a 27-time World Champion and is famous for giving genuine MMA fighters a difficult time with his fake prowess and snarky comments.
Both the character Laranja and impressionist Orange have been embraced open-heartedly by the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community for delivering light-hearted moments in the serious BJJ world.
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The only exception is Nate Diaz, who seems oblivious to the make-believe Laranja character. At the 2012 World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, Laranja said some downright hurtful and disparaging things, which riled MMA artist Nate Diaz.
Diaz took the ongoing crowd by surprise when he shoved the impressionist harshly in the chest. Diaz could not tell the difference between real and fake, and perhaps did not even know Rhasaan had an alter ego, and immediately chose to confront.
The two approached each other and engaged in a staredown until Diaz shoved Orange. It was clear that he was waiting for a response.
Orange may be a Black belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, but it is unlikely that he could hold up against a pro fighter like Nate Diaz. So, when the celebrated mixed martial arts warrior and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt came face-to-face with the comedian, it was best that Orange did not react aggressively.
The managers were forced to interrupt when Diaz acted violently. If the managers did not intervene, Diaz would have continued fighting. The UFC star maintained an unwavering hateful gaze at Rhasaan.
It was later clarified to him that Laranja was an alter-ego and Rhasaan said everything in good humor. The video of this incident went viral, making fans wonder whether Diaz is socially competent to deal with life.
