Usually opposed to speaking about Nick Diaz returning to action, UFC president Dana White has changed his tune on the subject.
Following a recent conversation with Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) in Jacksonville, Fla. it appears that the former Strikeforce champion has his sights set on making a return to the cage at some point in 2021.
“I wasn’t very high on it. I didn’t think that it would happen, but it looks like it will,” White told Farah Hannoun in an interview with UFC Arabia.
For what it’s worth, White’s response is a sharp contrast to his usual replies when Diaz is brought up.
“You never hear me say that, ever,” White joked. “You say, ‘Do you think Nick Diaz will fight this year?,’ and ‘absolutely, positively not’ is what I usually say.”
After meeting with him, White openly questioned Diaz’s desire to still fight. In recent months, Diaz has been seen training alongside boxing heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, and his presence at UFC 261 caused the rumor mill to start turning again. Diaz added fuel to the fire by posting a cryptic tweet that caused imaginations to run wild.
Diaz, 37, hasn’t competed since he faced Anderson Silva at UFC 183 on Jan. 31, 2015, but that hasn’t caused fans to stop hoping that a return rumor becomes reality. This time, according to White, it seems more real than ever before.
“The matchmakers have (spoken to Diaz) and I don’t know where we’re at on it, but it’s looking promising,” White said.
