After mere reports were released in mid-November, UFC president Dana White confirms that Nick Diaz will indeed make his MMA return against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 235.
In mid-November, reports about Nick Diaz’s return from a three-year layoff against Jorge Masvidal surfaced. At the time, the fight was still being finalized for UFC 235 in March in Las Vegas.
During the UFC 231 post-fight media scrum on early Sunday morning, UFC president Dana White confirmed that the bout will indeed be taking place.
“Somebody was telling me earlier that we didn’t announce that? As far as I know, sitting right here right now, that fight’s on,” White told members of the media. “As far as I know, that fight is on.
“I’ve been here since Tuesday. Unless something happened since Tuesday, which is very possible, it’s on.”
White also confirmed that they “have nothing going on” for Nick’s younger brother Nate since the cancellation of the previously scheduled matchup against Dustin Poirier at UFC 230 in November.
The 35-year-old Diaz last fought at UFC 183 in January 2015, where he lost via decision to Anderson Silva. The results, however, were overturned to a No Contest, after both men tested positive for banned substances.
Diaz has since been in the sidelines serving multiple suspensions, both for the drug test failure that lasted 18 months, and another 12 months for failing to notify USADA of his whereabouts in 2017.
Masvidal, on the other hand, last saw action at UFC 217 in November, where he lost to Stephen Thompson via unanimous decision.
UFC 235 takes place on March 2nd. No other matchups have been slated for the card as of this posting.