Nick Diaz news reveals the former UFC number one welterweight contender's intention to make an Octagon return by early 2015.
The 30-year old Stockton, California native last fought in March 2013 at UFC 158, against former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. After being defeated in a five-round battle via unanimous decision, the elder Diaz brother announced his retirement from mixed martial arts competition.
"I think I'm done with mixed martial arts. I'm tired of being banged up like this," Diaz said during the UFC 158 post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
Nick Diaz once again reiterated his "retired" status during an early-June interview with MMA Fighting.
"I'm retired. Completely retired," he said regarding the Nick Diaz news. "Unless the UFC wants to renegotiate for something I'm happy with or I'm going to be fighting for the world title, which is obviously going to be for something I'm happy with because I'll make a ton of money."
Despite his inactivity from fighting, Nick Diaz has not completely isolated himself from UFC events and the mixed martial arts scene altogether. Most recently, he expressed his intent to face former middleweight champion and pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva, who is currently healing from a broken leg injury.
However, Nick Diaz did name a hefty price for his potential return in the UFC.
"I'm not considering even for a second fighting any of those guys for less than $500,000," he said. "There's no way."
Most recently, though, Nick Diaz has once again spoken about making an Octagon comeback. Sports Illustrated's Loretta Hunt confirmed the Nick Diaz news through Twitter, which was reported by Bloody Elbow.
"Ran into Nick Diaz last nite at Glory," the tweet reads. "Good mood. Said he hoped to be fighting again by new year; trying to work out contracts now."
It has not been made official whether Nick Diaz will come back as a welterweight, or at middleweight to accommodate the Anderson Silva match-up. He currently holds a UFC record of 1-2, since his re-signing with the company in 2011.
