Nate Diaz is up next for a UFC 155 pound title shot

By Michael Hatamoto

The winner of Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar II tonight will face Nate Diaz sometime in late 2012 or early 2013, it was confirmed.

Regardless of the outcome, there won’t be a rematch for the loser of tonight’s event, which is especially bad news for Henderson if he loses.

“Nate Diaz will fight the winner,” UFC President Dana White noted in an interview with FUEL TV after the UFC 150 weigh-ins.

I like the idea that a possible trilogy fight between Henderson and Edgar won’t be possible at this point – Edgar has a rematch with Henderson tonight, he met Gray Maynard three times, and fought B.J. Penn twice in the past.

This announcement isn’t too shocking, as Diaz is on a three-fight win streak after dropping back down to lightweight in 2011.  The Cesar Gracie-trained fighter is a BJJ black belt with excellent ground skills and a fun, scrappy style that pleases fans when he fights on the feet.

With the likes of Henderson, Edgar, Diaz, Gray Maynard, Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone, and Melvin Guillard in the lightweight division, there is some great matchmaking potential for the UFC.  Former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez has one fight left before he likely makes a jump into the UFC sometime in 2013.