The UFC’s prodigal lightweight is back in the fold.
Nate Diaz will return from a self-imposed layoff of a year and return to meet Rafael dos Anjos in the co-main event of UFC on FOX 13 on Dec. 13. UFC.com broke news of the bout, which will be held in Phoenix.
Diaz (17-9) last fought in the main event of the TUF 18 Finale on Nov. 30 in Las Vegas, where he scored a first-round TKO of Gray Maynard.
After the bout, Diaz decided not to stop fighting, unhappy with his pay. The UFC refused to budge on the on the terms, often noting Diaz had lost his previous two fights before the win over Maynard.
A source close to the Diaz camp confirmed to MMAFighting.com that Diaz will return under the terms of his old contract.
Diaz will face one of the division’s hottest fighters in dos Anjos (22-7). The Brazilian has won seven of his past eight fights, most recently a stunning first-round knockout of former lightweight champion Benson Henderson.