Fight fans holding out hope of seeing Nick Diaz emerge from his self-imposed retirement before the end of the calendar year appear to be setting themselves up for disappointment.
“Nick’s obviously still on the roster,” UFC President Dana White said on Thursday’s FOXSports Google Hangout. “He’s still an active fighter here in the UFC, but as far as I know, he’s just not interested in fighting right now.”
Diaz has competed just once thus far in 2013, losing a lopsided unanimous decision to UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158. Though the matchmaking for the bout drew initial criticism, St-Pierre vs. Diaz ultimately gathered the year’s highest UFC pay-per-view buyrate, easily besting the next two closest contenders, UFC 159 and UFC 162, by a wide margin.
In White’s eyes, the significant payday Diaz received from the event could be one of the main reasons Diaz remains on the sidelines.
“When Nick finally fought Georges St-Pierre, Nick Diaz made some money. So Nick Diaz has some kickback money,” White said. “He can probably take as long as he wants to fight again. I would assume that’s why (he’s not fighting).
“You’re fighting to make a living, you’re fighting to pay your bills, you’re fighting to get things that you want out of life. And with the money that Nick Diaz made in his last fight, I’m sure he’s got everything he wants right now.”