Nick Diaz returns at UFC Abu Dhabi: How did the welterweight division look the last time the Stockton native fought?
Nick Diaz is gearing up to make his much-anticipated return to the UFC, ending his nearly three-year hiatus from the octagon. UFC CEO Dana White recently revealed the main card for the upcoming UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Night event on social media, scheduled for Aug. 3 at the Etihad Arena.
The 40-year-old Stockton native is scheduled to face Vicente Luque in a five-round welterweight bout, positioned as the co-main event of the Middle Eastern card.
Nick Diaz made his comeback to active competition after a six-year absence in a rematch against former foe Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in September 2021. The former Strikeforce 170-pound champion unexpectedly dropped to the canvas in the third round and opted not to continue, prompting the referee to halt the bout.
When Diaz made his return to the octagon in 2021, Kamaru Usman was dominating the welterweight division, having already defended his title four times successfully. The reigning champion, Leon Edwards, was not close to the title picture due to various setbacks in his trajectory.
Initially, a canceled bout against Khamzat Chimaev disrupted Edwards' momentum, and then his fight against Belal Muhammad resulted in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke. 'Rocky' then managed to secure a significant win against Diaz's younger sibling, Nate Diaz, at UFC 263.
At that time, 'Borz' had already made his dominant entrance in the middleweight division with a 17-second knockout victory over Gerald Meerschaert while also steamrolling through contenders in the 170-pound division.
Furthermore, the rising undefeated prospect Ian Garry had yet to make his UFC debut. Additionally, the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion and former middleweight titleholder, Alex Pereira, had not made his promotional debut during that period.
Throughout his active career, Diaz vied for both the UFC 170-pound title and interim belt. His most recent three bouts, spanning years, saw him face off against three former champions: Lawler, Anderson Silva, and Georges St-Pierre. The UFC icon's last victory came against B.J. Penn at UFC 137 in October 2011.
When Joe Rogan acknowledged Nick Diaz's impact in MMA
One of Nick Diaz's most unforgettable fights is widely regarded as his first encounter against Robbie Lawler at UFC 47 in April 2004, where he secured a second-round knockout victory.
During an episode of his podcast in January 2020, Joe Rogan recounted Diaz's legendary KO and praised him for transforming the landscape of MMA. The seasoned UFC commentator also commended Diaz for championing the cardio-focused approach in the sport
"Nick Diaz changed the game in terms of his elite cardio. He did something that was a new thing. And that new thing was, he's not gonna hit you with a hundred percent power, he's gonna hit you with 50 percent. But he's gonna hit you twice as much, and you're never going to get to breathe."
Check out Joe Rogan's comments below (3:33):