Nick Diaz, the MMA legend, is planning a comeback to the UFC before the end of the year.
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Nick Diaz is preparing for another spectacular comeback to the cage later this year, and he wants to fight Kamaru Usman, the pound-for-pound king. The 38-year-old has only fought once since 2015, losing by TKO to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in September, and now wants a big fight when he returns at the ‘end of this year.’ Despite his lack of UFC involvement, the legendary Nick Diaz wants a crack at the Nigerian Nightmare for the UFC championship.
Diaz said to TMZ Sports when asked whether he planned to return to the octagon:’We’re working on the end of the year. I don’t need to go in there and get my ass whooped by one of them young guys anyway, and it’s not that I won’t win. It’s just I’m not motivated. I want fight for the title. I don’t want do all this – I’m 38 years old.’ When asked about a possible welterweight title fight with Usman, who hasn’t lost since May 2013, Diaz said: ‘I think I’ll beat him.’
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Usman is already set to fight British star Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 278 on August 20. When questioned about it during UFC London in March, Dana White revealed that ‘Rocky’ is next in line, although no date has been set. Usman is recovering from hand surgery, but the UFC has set its sights on the Salt Lake City event this summer for the champion’s rematch with Edwards, according to Ariel Helwani.
Edwards’ previous loss was in 2015, when he was unanimously defeated by ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ in his debut fight. Both guys have progressed tremendously since then, and British expectations are strong that the Birmingham fighter will follow Michael Bisping as the second British UFC champion. Despite a late wobble in the fifth round, Edwards demolished Nick’s brother, Nate, in his last fight and could represent a serious danger to Usman.
However, the 35-year-old is a powerful champion who, in addition to his superb wrestling, now has the capacity to knock out opponents. He has made it clear that he wants to challenge Canelo Alvarez in a lucrative boxing bout, but there has been little interest from other countries in such a contest. Dana White, on the other hand, is adamantly opposed to the notion, therefore Usman will have to stay to MMA for the time being and focus on the task offered by Edwards or Diaz later this year.
Stephen Thompson declines the quick turnaround fight and wants Usman next.
