On the doorstep of the biggest fight of her career, and quite possibly the most anticipated women’s bout in mixed martial history, UFC champion Ronda Rousey has set some time aside to weigh in on the whole Nick Diaz retirement thing.
As a fellow training partner and close friend of Diaz’s, “Rowdy” may possess ultimate insight on whether or not he’s aiming for a Octagon return in 2014.
In a recent interview with Charissa Thompson on Fox Sports Live, and originally reported by David St. Martin of MMA Fighting, she was kind enough to elaborate:
“Nick’s been fighting for a really really long time,” said Rousey. “I’ve only been fighting for three years, I mean, he’s been fighting I think for over a decade now. This sport puts a lot of miles on you very quickly. If he feels like he needs a rest and to take a break, you can’t fight for anyone other than yourself. You can’t fight sooner than you feel like you should. It really is a life and death situation out there and you have to do it when you feel it’s right.”
Now if Diaz was to make a return to the welterweight division at any point in time, the sooner the better. Longtime champ and personal rival Georges St-Pierre is no longer king. With him out of the loop for the foreseeable future, the road to the title is slightly less imposing.
So when asked flat out if she thinks Diaz will return, Rousey simply said, “Yeah, I think he will.”
Take it as you will, but if anybody knows what the elder Diaz is looking to do, wouldn’t it be one of his close companions and mat partners?
In any case, it is Rousey who will be fighting for a UFC championship come Saturday, not Diaz. She’ll be taking on nemesis Miesha Tate for the second time in her short career.
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