UFC target Nick Diaz return against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 235:
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| If they make it to the Octagon, this one's a barnburner. |
Nick Diaz finally looks set to end his four year absence from the Octagon in 2019, with the polarizing star reportedly set for a Welterweight showdown with fellow striker Jorge 'Gamebred' Masvidal at UFC 235 in March. The two time Welterweight title challenger last faced Anderson Silva in 2014, losing a decision to the Brazilian as both himself and 'The Spider' failed post fight drug tests. Younger brother Nate Diaz was scheduled to himself return in October just gone, but an injury to UFC 230 opponent Dustin Poirier scuppered his first appearance in MMA for two years.
One of the most interesting and popular fighters to ever grace the fight game, the cult hero former Strikeforce 170lbs best holds a professional record of 26-9 with a career spanning an incredible seventeen years. The 35 year old Stockton native is a third degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Cesar Gracie, but it's supreme grappling skills which are often overlooked due to his slick, pace pushing boxing. Diaz scored a late first round knockout over Paul Daley to win the Strikeforce Welterweight title in one of the most exciting rounds in mixed-martial arts history and arguably put the worst beating on a prime B.J. Penn back in 2011, earning an unsuccessful Interim title fight with Carlos Condit firstly, before a lackluster showdown with Georges St-Pierre whom he had built a huge rivalry with. The one time WEC champion holds some eye catching names on his win column including memorable clashes with Robbie Lawler in the pair's first UFC stints, a trash talk fueled match up with Frank Shamrock and perhaps his most 'controversial' win, a 2007 gogoplata submission of PRIDE FC great Takanori Gomi. Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites after his victory in Japan, and still managed to pull off one of the rarest and high level submissions of all time.
Jorge Masvidal not only offers a high level return for Diaz, but also a striking oriented fighter who is capable of matching Diaz in the eventual exchanges. The Miami born Masvidal hasn't competed since last November in a decision defeat to Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson and his time at Welterweight since his jump form 155lbs have garnered him mixed fortunes. Going 4-4 since his division return in 2015, Masvidal picked up wins over Cezar Ferreira, Ross Pearson and memorable knockouts over veterans Jake Ellenberger and Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone. Masvidal was edged out by Benson Henderson, Demian Maia and Lorenz Larkin and a victory over Nick Diaz would certainly be the biggest name on his professional resumé.
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