Nick Diaz Close To A Return

Nick Diaz Close To A Return

By Nick Long 

2018 has been a year for huge fighter announcements. We’ve had the likes of Conor McGregor making his return after 2-years away from the sport, the announcement Brock Lesnar will return to the octagon in 2019 after a 2 and a half year layoff and of course, the most recent news of the trade deal that saw Ben Askren sign to the UFC from ONE Championship and the former flyweight king Demetrious Johnson go the other way.

Now, we have Nick Diaz to add to such a prestigious list with the Stockton native set to return after a 4-year absence from the sport.

Nick Diaz (26-9-2) is a fan favourite amongst the MMA fans with a cult like following, notably known for his brash, trash talking, no cares given attitude. But scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find the Californian has one of the more accomplished skill sets in the sport.

A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Cesar Gracie, he has mastered the art since beginning as a teenager and has gone on to win notable titles, including a prestigious Pan-America Brown Belt Championship back in 2005.

As well as being an accomplished BJJ practitioner, Diaz has also dabbled as a boxer having made his pro debut back in 2005 with a unanimous decision win in his one and only professional bout.

If that wasn’t enough, he is also a keen triathlon competitor regularly featuring in races between fight camps. This has benefited him with having some of the best cardio in the game, allowing him to constantly put pressure on his opponents, as well as controlling the pace of the fight.

Put all of that together and it has led to Diaz being a multiple time welterweight champion across various different promotions, including Strikeforce where he has the record for most successful title defences in welterweight history.

Here, we take a look at the stats surrounding the 35-year old before he makes one of the most anticipated comebacks in UFC history.

1,386

The amount of days since we last saw Nick Diaz compete in the UFC.

That last performance saw Nick drop a unanimous decision to one of the greatest to ever do it, Anderson Silva.

A fight that showcased 5 rounds of crisp, beautiful striking exchanges, Diaz pushed a pace that Silva was more than happy to maintain and some. We saw Anderson showcase some of the finest striking he is notorious for, with Nick proving his mental and physical toughness, taking shots that would have finished most fighters.

We saw both men push each other to the brink, engraving the performance into the minds of all to have witnessed it, but unfortunately, it would not be without its controversy.

1,825

The number of days handed to Nick Diaz on September 14th 2015 in a suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

The suspension would be due to a failed in competition drug test for Marijuana after the Anderson Silva fight. This would lead to the match being overturned to a “no-contest” with news emerging that Silva himself had also failed an in competition drug test for Anabolic Steroids.

This would be the largest suspension handed out to date for a failed drug test due to Marijuana. A few months later Nick would appeal, leading to the suspension eventually being reduced to just 18-months, less than half the original sentence.

However, this would be the catalyst that would lead to another suspension. On April 9th 2018, Diaz was handed a further one-year suspension for failing to report his whereabouts to USADA on three separate occasions. Luckily this would be a retroactive suspension to April 9th 2017, thus paving the way for his return.

13

The number of KO/TKO wins Nick Diaz has.

It’s no secret that Nick loves to stand and trade, the non-stop pressure merged with his ability to throw combinations of light and heavy shots (as well as take the time to hurl verbal insults at his opponent in the process) has been unmatched, leading to notable finishes of Robbie Lawler, Frank Shamrock and Paul Daley to name a few.

The Stockton fighter is not one to take lightly, especially when exchanging blow for blow. Nick is well known for his aggressive, brawling style, not willing to back down from any exchange. One of the many reasons for his beloved following, the ability to mix such aesthetically pleasing striking with firework like explosive shots has brought many a fan to their feet.

8

The number of submission wins Nick Diaz has.

Given his Brazilian jiu-jitsu credentials, it’s no secret the 35-year old has a solid reputation for finishing opponents on the ground, so don’t be shocked to see him put on a grappling clinic if the occasion calls.

If his BJJ resume alone isn’t impressive enough, take a moment out of your day to checkout and appreciate his rare gogoplata submission win over Takanori Gomi of all people, at Pride 33. Unfortunately, Diaz’s fondness for Marijuana would first reveal itself here, with the bout later being overturned to a “no-contest” due to failing an in competition drug test due to the enormous levels of THC found in his system. This would lead to Nick being handed his first ever suspension over Marijuana, receiving a 6-month ban.

105

The number of days until Nick Diaz returns.

If all goes to plan, March 2nd 2019 will be the date, UFC 235 will be the event and T-Mobile arena, Las Vegas will be the location.

As it stands, #9 ranked welterweight Jorge Masvidal (32-13) will be the opponent. A brawler through and through, we could be looking at fight of the night credentials here with Masvidal wanting to stamp out the hype and Diaz wanting to make an emphatic return that could put the entire division on notice. This will be an all time classic to add to the list.

2019 is already shaping up to start off with a bang, get ready to clear your diaries and mark your calendars, Nick Diaz is coming back.