Report - Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler II Set To Take Place At Middleweight Weight Limit

Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC

We've got a slight change to this weekend's eye-catching UFC 266 main card bout between the returning Nick Diaz and former undisputed welterweight champion, 'Ruthless' Robbie Lawler, with the bout reportedly set to move to the middleweight limit of 185lbs rather than take place at the originally slated 170lbs welterweight weight class.

Per a report from mixed martial arts reporter, Ariel Helwani on his official Substack page, Diaz's return against former-foe, Lawler has been moved to the middleweight weight class from the welterweight division, with a reason for the shuffle unknown at the time of publication.

Helwani's report confirmed that the bout will remain intact on the main card of UFC 266 prior to the flyweight title showdown between Valentina 'Bullet' Shevchenko and 'Lucky' Lauren Murphy. And will take place over the course of five sanctioned rounds in a non-title, non-main event bout.

Slated to return for the first time since January 2015 in a rematch against Lawler, Diaz's last outing came in the form of an eventual official 'No Contest' opposite former middleweight champion, Anderson Silva at UFC 183 in a headlining, non-title bout.

For Lawler, the San Diego knockout artist looks to avenge an April 2004 second round knockout loss when pitted with Stockton favorite, Diaz back at UFC 43.

The former undisputed UFC welterweight champion last featured against Neil Magny at UFC Vegas 8 in August of last year -- dropping a unanimous decision loss and his fourth consecutive defeat.

A former champion under the promotion's banner, Lawler successfully defeated Johny Hendricks in a December 2014 rematch in a split judging win, before lodging a pair of successful title knockbacks in the form of unforgettable showdowns with two-time opponent, Rory MacDonald, and the recently retired, Carlos Condit.

For the returning fan-favorite, Diaz, he looks to lodge his first professional victory since a 2013 unanimous decision victory against former two-weight gold holder, B.J. Penn.

UFC 266 takes place on September 25. from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada -- with an undisputed featherweight title bout between Alexander 'The Great' Volkanovski and the #1 ranked contender, Brian 'T-City' Ortega booked to take main event status.