Report: Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler 2 For UFC 266

Nick Diaz and Robbie Lawler are expected to run it back at UFC 266, according to UFC President Dana White

17 years after Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler at UFC 47, Diaz and Lawler are expected to run it back in the co-headliner slot for UFC 266.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White told TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter on Wednesday that a match-up pitting Diaz vs. Lawler “is in the works” for September. MMA Junkie subsequently reported that one side has verbally agreed to the match-up as the co-main event of UFC 266, taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV on Sat., Sept. 25 via ESPN+ pay-per-view (PPV).

Diaz and Lawler previously met at UFC 47 on April 2, 2004, via second-round knockout.

Diaz (26-9-0-2) has not competed professionally since a unanimous decision loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 183 in January 2015. The fight was later overturned to a no-contest after Silva tested positive for drostanolone and androsterone. Diaz also tested positive for marijuana. Silva is winless dating back to a Oct. 2011 unanimous decision victory over the legendary B.J. Penn. He holds notable wins over Paul Daley, KJ Noons, Frank Shamrock, Gleison Tibau and Chris Lytle.

Former UFC Welterweight champion Lawler (28-15-0-1) is currently on a career-worst four-fight losing skid. He has not won a fight since beating Donald Cerrone at UFC 214 on July 29, 2017, his first fight after losing the welterweight crown to Tyron Woodley. His hit list includes Carlos Condit, Rory MacDonald (twice), Johny Hendricks, Matt Brown, Jake Ellenberger, Josh Koscheck, Melvin Manhoef, Frank Trigg and Lytle.

UFC 266 is expected to be headlined by a UFC Featherweight title fight pitting champion Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega.