Dana White: ‘I’ll Give Jorge Masvidal Fight With Demain Maia if Nick Diaz Doesn’t Accept it’

Nick Diaz isn’t likely to step back inside the Octagon anytime soon.

The former Strikeforce welterweight champion hasn’t competed in a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout since Jan. 2015. He originally fell short to Anderson Silva by unanimous decision, but both men were flagged by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC). As a result, the bout was changed to a no contest.

Diaz is coming off a reduced suspension and is now free to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The problem is, he doesn’t seem to want to do so right now. On the UFC Unfiltered podcast (via Flo Combat), Dana White confirmed what Joe Rogan had stated before. Diaz turned down a fight with former UFC title holder Robbie Lawler:

“I dunno [why he turned it down]. They were terrorizing me saying they want a fight and they wanted to announce it that night at the Sacramento card [UFC on Fox 22]. He was there, it was the right crowd because it was his hometown and he wanted to announce it. I got Robbie Lawler to accept the fight but then I called him and he turned it down. They’ve been radio silent on me ever since.”

Some may be puzzled by Diaz’s decision as it’s the type of fight stylistically that would be up his alley. The Stockton native recently said he’s waiting for the “right situation” to return and that he won’t sign just any offer given to him.

White is wondering if a bout with Demian Maia is that “right situation.” If not, he’s prepared to offer the bout to Jorge Masvidal, who is coming off a sensational performance over Donald Cerrone.

“I just reached out to them [again] and suggested a fight with Demian Maia. I haven’t heard back from them yet. If Nick doesn’t take it then I’m going to give it to Masvidal.”

Related News

Top Stories

UFC Store

Henry Cejudo Backs ‘Greatest’ Dricus Du Plessis To Beat Khamzat Chimaev And Alex Pereira

Former UFC double champ Henry Cejudo has been so impressed with Dricus Du Plessis’s...

Stipe Miocic Makes His Pick For The Current Best Heavyweight — And It’s Not Jon Jones

Don't tell Jon Jones, but former UFC champion Stipe Miocic sees a prominent name...

Coach Eric Nicksick Gives Brutal Assessment Of Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘To Show Up And Do That…Uninspiring’

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has been receiving plenty of flak for his...

Fans Amused By A ‘Smashed’ Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 312 Victory

UFC star Dricus Du Plessis has gained popularity for not just his unorthodox fighting...

Tatiana Suarez Breaks Her Silence Days On From UFC 312 Defeat To Zhang Weili

UFC women's strawweight contender Tatiana Suarez has issued her first statement after falling short...

Belal Muhammad Breaks Down How Dricus Du Plessis Fight Would Play Out: ‘Then I Put Him To Sleep…’

UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad continues to step up talk of a push for...

Daniel Cormier Downplays Dricus Du Plessis’ Champ-Champ Talk: ‘He Still Has Work At Middleweight’

Daniel Cormier was cageside as Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title for...

Joe Rogan Calls For Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev Next, Says ‘Who Cares’ About Only 1 Title Defense

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan knows what he wants to see next from featherweight...

Luke Rockhold Slams Sean Strickland For ‘B*tching Out’ After Nose Break vs. Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 312

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland continues to be the recipient of criticism for...