Nick Diaz
Fans may have to wait longer for a Nick Diaz return. In this picture, Diaz stands in the octagon after five rounds against Anderson Silva in a middleweight bout during UFC 183 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Jan. 31, 2015. Steve Marcus/Getty Images

KEY POINTS

  • Nick Diaz is set to return to the Octagon after a six-year layoff
  • His last fight against Anderson Silva was ruled a no-contest
  • Diaz was originally suspended for five years due to a marijuana-related case

The long-awaited return of Nick Diaz is set to happen in September against Robbie Lawler, according to UFC president Dana White.

TSN Sports’ Aaron Bronsteter tweeted out that a Diaz-Lawler co-main event is "in the works" for UFC 266 in September.

It’s been six years since the MMA world last saw Nick Diaz in a loss to Anderson Silva back at UFC 183.

The win for Silva was ruled a no-contest after “The Spider” tested positive for drostanolone and androsterone, while Diaz tested positive for marijuana--his third time committing such offense at the time.

Diaz was then suspended for a lengthy sentence of five years by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which was then later reduced to 18 months.

According to MMAFighting.com, no contracts have been signed yet to make the bout official, but there are verbal agreements happening--with a “90 to 95 percent” chance of it being a done deal.

Alongside his brother Nate, Diaz has been seen by many as one of the sport’s bad boys thanks to his trash-talking and high-pace style of fighting.

It was reported in 2020 that Diaz has been planning to make his comeback in 2021 and his manager, Kevin Mubenga, went on to say that Diaz tested out a weight cut to see if his body would react in the same way that it did years ago.

Lawler and Diaz have fought in the UFC once, back in 2004, as the latter made a name for himself with a highlight-reel knockout of the former in the second round at UFC 47.

17 years since their first encounter, Lawler will be looking to avenge that loss and at the same time prove that he still has some gas left in the tank.

The former UFC welterweight champion struggled against Colby Covington and Neil Magny in his most recent appearances as he lost both fights.

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