Nick Diaz vs Robbie Lawler II Targeted For UFC 266
We were recently informed of an incredible return bout, and that’s the upcoming appearance from the one and only, Nick Diaz.
There’s been talk about this for years and years now. But, he spent most of his retirement partying, not in the great physical shape we’d always known him to be in, showing no signs of wanting to return to the octagon.
However, since the time Jorge Masvidal defeated his little brother Nate, which was in November of 2019, he’s gotten back into great shape, and he’s taking competing in the sport seriously again.
The last time this man fought was in January of 2015, where he battled to a no contest with one of the greatest of all-time, Anderson Silva, at 185 lbs.
Prior to that, he’d also fought two of the other GOAT’s in the sports history, defeating BJ Penn via unanimous decision in 2011, and losing a unanimous decision to Georges St-Pierre in 2013 when he was awarded a title shot, both at 170 lbs.
Diaz also has a number of other great performances, a couple of which saw him become the only man to ever knock out KO artists Robbie Lawler and Paul Daley, but as mentioned above, he hasn’t fought in over six years.
Since then, Tyron Woodley has become the only other man to knock Lawler out, capturing the UFC welterweight championship in doing so. Daley on the other hand still hasn’t lost another stand up fight with over 20+ MMA bouts and seven kickboxing bouts since, where he improved his professional kickboxing record to 21-3 from 2014 to 2015.
Now, it appears we finally have the return of the man to knock both of them out set up, and it’s opposing former UFC welterweight champion ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler.
It isn’t a done deal yet, but Dana White has revealed they’re working on this match up for UFC 266’s co-main event.
That event is to go down September 25, 2021, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. The main event will showcase a championship bout between UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and former title challenger, No. 2 contender Brian Ortega.
There was a good amount of talk about this fight back when Lawler was on top, because well, Diaz would have been too if he decided to stay active. However, instead, it appears it’ll happen five-to-six years later.
Where Diaz hasn’t fought in six-and-a-half years, Lawler hasn’t done the best as of late. He’s lost his last four straight, going 1-5 in his last six, starting when he lost the belt to Woodley.
That doesn’t take away from the remarkable career resurgence he had when he returned to the UFC of course.
The only victory he had in that time (his last six) was a decision over Donald Cerrone that could’ve honestly went either way.
Considering Diaz has been inactive, this may be the perfect comeback fight for him.
Lawler is still a very dangerous opponent, and even being away so long, Diaz is as natural of a fighter as you’ll find.
The UFC initially offered him (Diaz) Khamzat Chimaev, but their team didn’t favor the match up, given Chimaev is still an unproven talent at this point, which makes sense.
We’ve all been wondering who his opponent could be.
Some thought the UFC should’ve kept Dan Hardy, a fellow former title challenger, and a fellow former champion elsewhere. That would’ve been a great stand up bout to watch with Diaz’ boxing and Hardy’s kickboxing, but of course, Hardy’s been released.
Honestly, this would’ve been the best match up for Diaz, as Hardy has been teasing a return for some time now, and he himself hasn’t fought since 2012.
Others thought maybe it was time for him to face Jorge Masvidal. They’re two elite strikers that’ve been around forever. Where Diaz is great on the mat, Masvidal’s great at takedown defense, and we both know what they can do on the feet.
Masvidal was calling for Diaz or Colby Covington for a fall return for himself. It looks like he may be left out now. Covington is going to be booked against champion Kamaru Usman for the second time, and now Diaz versus Lawler II is being worked on.
However, should this bout become official, it’ll happen 17-and-a-half years after their first.
Both men were in their early 20’s at the time, and now they’re both in their late 30’s, with Diaz being 37 and Lawler being 39. This would be such an extraordinary encounter. Who rematches nearly two decades after their first fight?
Who wins in Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler II?
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