Report: Nick Diaz to Fight Top Welterweight Contender Upon Return
By FCF Staff
Nick Diaz will reportedly fight a top welterweight contender, and not the winner of the upcoming championship fight between Georges St. Pierre and Carlos Condit, when he returns from suspension early next year.
Although a bout between St. Pierre or Condit would certainly be a big draw, UFC President Dana White has said Diaz will have to fight at least once before he’s given a title shot, according to a report from MMA Weekly.
Diaz is currently under suspension with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, due to a positive test for marijuana, following his decision loss to Condit last February. The suspension runs into February 2013.
Diaz and his camp also campaigned for a bout with Anderson Silva earlier this year, but the emergence of Chris Weidman and the possibility of Silva fighting St. Pierre or Jon Jones down the line, makes that fight unlikely. White has also shot down the possibility of Diaz moving to middleweight to fight the champion Silva.
Prior to his loss to Condit, Diaz (26-8) returned to the UFC in October, 2011, and scored a unanimous decision win over BJ Penn.
St. Pierre and Condit are scheduled to fight November 17th in Montreal.