Nick Diaz wanted many different opponents before settling on a fight with Vicente Luque at UFC Abu Dhabi.
Earlier today, Dana White announced that the former Strikeforce champion would be returning in August. For Nick Diaz, the fight will mark his first since a third-round stoppage loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in September 2021. That bout ended a nearly seven-year hiatus from the sport for the former titleholder.
In Abu Dhabi, Nick Diaz will face longtime welterweight contender Vicente Luque. For his part, āThe Silent Assassinā is coming off a knockout loss to Joaquin Buckley in March. That defeat was the Brazilianās third, in his last four bouts. Luque previously suffered lopsided losses to Geoff Neal, and Belal Muhammad in prior fights.
However, Nick Diaz was originally wanting a much bigger name for his UFC return. Earlier today, Ariel Helwani discussed the return of the longtime fan-favorite on The MMA Hour . There, the reporter revealed that Diaz pushed for many, many different opponents before booking his return for August. Some of those names include Michael āVenomā Page, Kevin Holland, and even Georges St-Pierre.
Lastly, Nick Diaz wanted a fight against former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington. Helwani revealed on his show that the Stockton native wanted to face āChaosā in a massive bout at UFC 300. However, after every other option didnāt come to fruition, he agreed to fight Luque in August.
āThis has been in the works for quite some time, Iāve been told.ā Ariel Helwani stated on The MMA Hour discussing Nick Diazās return. āNick has been pushing for a GSP fight, didnāt come to fruition. He was then pushing for a Colby Covington fight at UFC 300, didnāt come to fruition. He then after āMVPās debut and win at 299, pushed for that fight on the June 29th Conor McGregor card, UFC 303. Didnāt come to fruition.ā
He continued, āHe then pushed for Kevin Holland on the June 29th card, and thought that was going to be the one. But as you know, it didnāt come to fruitionā¦ They said āWhat about Vicente Luque in Abu Dhabi?ā, initially he didnāt want to go overseas. [But], Iām told the people in Abu Dhabi want Nick Diaz.ā
A Venom Page fight MIGHT be interesting, but would probably end up sucking. He fights at a wide distance and Nick fights in a phone booth. Polar opposite stand up styles.
Least it sounds like Nick is getting a big pay day.
Must be his final fight on his contract, he probably wants out of it so he can have boxing matches, (that I donāt want to see either)
THOSE OIL BOYS IN ABU DHABI DEF DROPPED OVER A MILLION TO GET NICK OVER THERE. NO WAY IN HELL IS HE TAKING THAT TRIP FOR HIS STANDARD CONTRACTUAL PAY.
I was seriously about to ask this
Nick is going to keister the clavo on his flight.