Former Strikeforce welterweight champion and former UFC welterweight title contender Nick Diaz was in attendance at UFC 170 to cheer on friend and occasional training partner Ronda Rousey.
Speaking with MMA Junkie, the controversial (yet still ridiculously popular) fighter opened up on his future and, essentially, said his return to competition is either immediate title shot or bust at this time.
“I’ve been fighting for 11 years…I don’t have to take a warmup fight,” he said. “What, am I going to take a warmup fight, to help somebody out? Bring them up to my level? Because I’ve already been through that, and you still haven’t seen me take an ass-whupping.”
Diaz, more or less, retired from MMA following his lopsided decision loss to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158. However, there have been consistent rumbles regarding a possible return ever since, and it had been previously stated that a title shot would be the proper bait to lure him back into the Octagon.
Diaz is one of the most popular fighters in the sport, but UFC president Dana White indicated he is unwilling to give him a crack at the belt at this time. “It’s not even worth talking about,” he stated at the UFC 170 post-fight media scrum. “He hasn’t fought, he hasn’t wanted a fight, he’s not even in the conversation.”
While that’s rough news for fans of the skilled veteran, Diaz stated he is content at this time without MMA competition. He is recuperating from 11 years of nonstop competition and is tackling the formidable task of moving to a new house.
Still, he didn’t completely close the door on his return, suggesting he might be willing to put the gloves back on this summer. If so, potential opponents are waiting for him such as Rory MacDonald, Carlos Condit and, just maybe, the loser of the upcoming welterweight title fight between Robbie Lawler and Johny Hendricks.
We’ll see what happens with Diaz‘s fighting future in the coming months.
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