Nick Diaz seeking a comeback bout against middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva – UFC News
Nick Diaz, former Strikeforce welterweight champion, is seeking a bout against middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Diaz, who will be ending his temporary retirement, wants to challenge Silva for the title.
“To see Nick leave at the top of his game was difficult,” revealed Cesar Gracie, Diaz’s manager, on his website graciefighter.com.
He added, “For the last couple of months I've watched Nick begin to frequent the gym more and more. He's training harder now than he has for many of his fights.”
“It was obvious that training and fighting is in his DNA. It is who he is. This week we had a great talk, and he made it clear to me that he is ready to get back in the cage. Nick Diaz will return.”
Gracie did not come up with a justification Diaz’s comeback move. However, he did affirm that Diaz is looking forward to a showdown by the end of 2012.
It should be noted here that Diaz currently does not hold a license from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Therefore, he would first be required to be reinstated by the commission and then move on with planning a fight.
Diaz received a one year suspension the Nevada State Athletic Commission earlier this year in May. He tested positive for marijuana metabolites after his fight against Carlos Condit on February 4, 2012.
To save himself from humiliation, Diaz announced his retirement after the suspension verdict was released.
While talking about Diaz’s offence, Gracie added that the camp has appealed with the courts and if things work out for Diaz, the fighter will make a comeback by the end of this year.
Gracie revealed that he is planning on challenging the commission in courts.
If Diaz’s is suspension is revoked by the courts, the fighter will make his way forward to challenge Anderson Silva for the title.
With Diaz’s comeback, Silva now has four young fighters looking forward a showdown against him. Michael Bisping, Brian Stann, Chris Weidman and now Nick Diaz are hopeful of a title shot at the Brazilian Spider somewhere by the end of this year.
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