Nick Diaz will appear on a stacked card at UFC 310 on December 7, returning to the octagon for the first time in over three years.
The 41-year-old has captivated MMA fans for the best part of two decades, making a name for himself as a fearless warrior even before his UFC debut in 2011.
Nick Diaz, in fact, headlined his first show with the flagship promotion against BJ Penn, claiming a decisive points victory which then catapulted him onto his first title fight.
And despite failing to secure another win since, the outspoken American has nonetheless become a household name in the world of combat sports.
Daniel Cormier expresses his concern for Nick Diaz’s UFC return
Diaz’s next opponent is Vicente Luque who, despite losing three of his last four contests, has been the vastly more active fighter in recent years.
The two seasoned campaigners will collide in an intriguing middleweight matchup on a mouthwatering card to see the UFC’s year out with a bang.
But still, several fans have questioned whether Diaz, a fighter well beyond his athletic prime, should be coming out of retirement for this event.
MMA legend and esteemed broadcaster Daniel Cormier, for one, believes that the veteran must be well aware of the potential consequences.
“I don’t want to see Nick Diaz that is just ripped,” Cormier told ESPN MMA. “When he fought Robbie Lawler [in his last fight], I was so excited. Because I was like ‘Man, he’s been back on the triathlons, and he looks even better than he did in his prime’. Then when he got to the Octagon, he looked nothing like that person.
“Nick Diaz struggled with Robbie Lawler, and Robbie Lawler was only one fight away from retirement. He has to be really locked in if he wants to go out there and not embarrass himself.”
Belal Muhammad headlines UFC 310 against Shavkat Rahmonov
Soon after Diaz makes his return, newly-crowned UFC welterweight king Belal Muhammad will face formidable contender Shavkat Rahmonov.
Since dethroning Briton Leon Edwards with a scintillating performance in their rematch at UFC 304, Muhammad’s stock has risen exponentially.
And so, with Rahmonov representing a potential banana skin, the champion will be forced to enter the lion’s den once again in order to retain his trinket.