Nick Diaz Will Return For UFC Abu Dhabi Against Vincent Luque
MMA legend Nick Diaz will return to the octagon to fight Vincent Luque at UFC Abu Dhabi on August 3. UFC CEO Dana White announced the matchup on X.
Diaz, 40, last fought in 2021 against Robbie Lawler. Lawler came out victorious with a third-round knockout. In that fight, Diaz did not seem to be in great shape. The fight was even contested at middleweight rather than the pair’s natural weight class of welterweight.
Diaz’s most recent contest broke a six-year layoff. That time away began after the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended him for five years after failing a drug test for marijuana. That was later reduced to 18 months, but Diaz remained sidelined.
It is unclear why Diaz has been out since 2021. An official retirement never came, but he was rarely in fight conversations.
At UFC Abu Dhabi, the biggest factor to watch will be Diaz’s physical shape. Despite his last fight, he has historically shown up in good shape. The fact that this is a five-round welterweight fight should add optimism in that regard.
Luque, 32, is much younger than Diaz, but he has sustained a large amount of damage throughout his career. In his last two bouts, he showed a lot of regression and hesitancy. That also coincides with his return from a brain hemorrhage.
Theoretically, this fight could be a test for two fighters that have hit tough times. At the same time, it would have been nice to see Diaz matched with an age-contemporary.
Diaz remains one of the biggest fan-favorites in UFC history. Despite being toward the tail end of his career, his history in the sport will make him must-watch television.
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