UFC veteran Nick Diaz is set for his second attempt at making a successful comeback.
Diaz, who became the inaugural Strikeforce welterweight champion back in 2010 and went on to compete for UFC gold against both Carlos Condit and Georges St-Pierre, has entered the Octagon just once since 2015.
After a drug test controversy following his bout with Anderson Silva, Diaz didn't return until UFC 266 in 2021, where he did battle with a fellow vet in Robbie Lawler. The Stockton native was far from his best, ultimately choosing not to return to his feet after being dropped in round three.
While that led many to call for Diaz's retirement, he subsequently hinted at further bouts. And his latest comeback is now official.
This week, UFC CEO Dana White took to social media to confirm the main card for the promotion's return to Abu Dhabi on August 3. Among the five contests is a welterweight collision between Diaz (26-10, 2 NC) and the #14-ranked Vicente Luque (22-10-1).
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The UFC Fight Night at Etihad Arena will be headlined by a bantamweight showdown between former interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen and the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.
Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of Tony Ferguson, Deiveson Figueiredo, Marlon Vera, and Mackenzie Dern will all be in action.
Diaz Targets First Win Since 2011 Against Luque
When Diaz and Luque collide in a five-round co-main event this summer, both will be looking to bounce back from defeats.
"The Silent Assassin" was in action more recently, slipping down the pecking order at 170 pounds courtesy of Joaquin Buckley at the UFC Fight Night in Atlantic City earlier this year. Prior to that, the Brazilian had returned from a brain injury scare by outpointing Rafael dos Anjos in a 2023 main event.
His opponent, meanwhile, has been without the winning feeling for quite some time. Before a defeat to Silva that was later overturned to a no contest, Diaz had lost two straight title fights against the great St-Pierre and Condit following a decision victory over BJ Penn.
That result against "The Prodigy" extended Diaz's win streak at the time to 11, a run that also included triumphs over Frank Shamrock and Paul Daley. He'll look to return to that winning form at the expense of Luque in Abu Dhabi on August 3.
With this addition, the main card set to unfold at Etihad Arena is as follows:
- Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight main event)
- Vicente Luque vs. Nick Diaz (welterweight co-main event)
- Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (bantamweight)
- Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez (strawweight)
- Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa (welterweight)
