Nick Diaz asks for fight with Robbie Lawler to be changed to middleweight
Nick Diaz is set for his long-anticipated return to the UFC. It has been six years since the last time Diaz set foot in the UFC Octagon. The return is set to take place this coming Saturday against Robbie Lawler. The fight was originally set to take place at welterweight but now just a day out from the event, Diaz is asking the UFC to make a change.
Diaz has asked for the fight to be moved to middleweight. Dana White confirmed this news on Tuesday night at his Contender Series event.
“Robbie Lawler texted me that he’ll hit me (up) when he lands (in Las Vegas). So Robbie wants to talk to me about this whole thing,” White said during the DWCS post-fight press conference (via MMAWeekly.com). “I know the Diaz camp wants the fight at 185. I don’t know. He probably doesn’t want to make weight.”
Diaz and Lawler have a long history together. The two first faced off against each other back in 2004. That time is was Diaz who walked away with the win. Lawler is hoping for a chance at revenge this time around. Lawler is the one who has never slowed down. In the six years that Diaz was out, Lawler has made great strides. Right before Diaz was suspended for marijuana usage, Lawler won the welterweight title. He defended it twice, but as of more recently has found himself in some hard times. He has now lost four in a row. This fight with Diaz could be a win-or-go-home situation for Lawler.
As for Nick Diaz, wanting the fight at middleweight could be a great advantage for him. He has not had to cut weight in some time. The last time he was 32 years old. Now at 38 things could be very different. Allowing him the extra 15 pounds just four days out, when Lawler is already on pace for 170 could change the odds altogether.
Lawler will have to agree to this. If he doesn’t and Diaz misses weight, Lawler could end up with a portion of Diaz’s purse. All of these factors will need to be thought out before a change can be made. Lawler vs. Diaz is slated for the main card portion on the UFC 266 event taking place on September 25 in Las Vegas.
