Nick Diaz (photo via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Just days out from Nick Diaz’s long-awaited return to the Octagon, Dana White has confirmed reports that the polarizing star has called for a late change.

Diaz is booked to fight Robbie Lawler this Saturday at UFC 266, and initially, the fight was supposed to take place at welterweight. The bout will be Diaz’s first since 2015.

But, recently Ariel Helwani reported that sources had confirmed the fight has been changed to a middleweight contest. The reason for the change was not disclosed.

White was asked about the report, following the latest Dana White Contender Series card on Tuesday, and the UFC President confirmed Diaz has asked for the change (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“Robbie Lawler texted me that he’ll hit me when he lands,” White said. “So Robbie wants to talk to me about this whole thing. This all happened while I was out of town this weekend. I know that the Diaz camp wants to fight at 185… I don’t know, he probably doesn’t want to make weight. Listen, every time you come into a Diaz fight, you know what I mean? And we forget because we haven’t seen Nick in a few years.”

Diaz and Lawler fought for the first time in 2004, and the latter was knocked out in round two. UFC 266 is set to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada.