At 39 years old, Nick Diaz is a decade removed from his last win in the UFC, but he still believes that he has more to give to the world of mixed martial arts. After recovering from two ruptured discs in his neck, the California native is looking to return to the UFC.
“I’m asking to fight as soon as possible,” Diaz said during a recent interview.
“Not Jon Jones though…Yeah, something like that [Israel Adesanya or Alex Pereira]. I always want to fight the best, you know? Not coming at Jon Jones or anything.”
Nick Diaz last fought in 2021. Robbie Lawler appeared to be leading Diaz on judges’ scorecards when the 39-year-old middleweight refused to continue in the third round with less than a minute to go. Prior to his loss to Lawler, Diaz fought to a no contest with Anderson Silva, lost to Georges St. Pierre and lost to Carlos Condit.
UFC President Dana White has not replied to Diaz’s most recent comments. Following Diaz’s most recent loss to Lawler, White did say that he should not fight in the UFC any longer.
“Regardless of how good he looked or what he did after such a huge layoff, I don’t think Nick should fight,” White told ESPN.
“It’s not that I was in favor of it. He’s a grown man and can do whatever he wants to do. I just don’t think that Nick does it because he loves it. I think Nick does it because he has to do it. I don’t know, man. People always ask me, ‘What’s the key to success?’ It’s all about being happy and doing what you love.”
