We figured Nick Diaz would be seen back at a UFC event next month when his younger brother, Nate, returns to fight Leon Edwards on May 15 at UFC 262, but wait just a minute.
Diaz has been in Jacksonville, Fla., all week ahead of tonight’s UFC 261, leading people to wonder why he’d attend this particular event headlined by a rematch between welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal.
Diaz, 37, hasn’t competed in ages – Jan. 31, 2015, to be exact, when he fought Anderson Silva at UFC 183. Every now and again, talk of a Diaz return to competition bubbles up, and that happened again this past December after Diaz’s manager, Kevin Mubenga, said there was a “99.99999 (percent)” chance Diaz will fight this year. After that came out, it didn’t take long for UFC president Dana White to say he wasn’t sold on that happening.
And yet, here we are, just hours from UFC 261 as of this writing, and Diaz earlier today stoked speculation with this tweet:
A gentlemen never tells. pic.twitter.com/q75neBjysB
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) April 24, 2021
A gentleman never tells.
For all we know, Diaz is just in town to enjoy some fights cageside. But folks on Twitter certainly have thoughts, theories or are just fired up to see that he’s there:
Cypress Hill reacts
Hip-hop legends Cypress Hill chimed in.
👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼
— Cypress Hill ™ (@cypresshill) April 24, 2021
Awaiting a Masvidal callout?
Masvidal defeated Nate Diaz for the BMF title in November 2019, and some people think a Masvidal victory could lead to a callout.
Forget about Jorge x Nate 2
We want Jorge x Nick for the BMF belt— Charlie (@ActionHold) April 24, 2021
I’m gonna go head and say if Jorge wins and Nick is in the arena….. a call out might happen…. BIG MONEY FIGHT!
— Chris (@ChrisPerez0323) April 24, 2021
I think Nick is there for Masvidal. That look says it all
— RS (@supersonicm3) April 24, 2021
Diaz vs. Condit 2?
Diaz lost a unanimous decision to Carlos Condit in February 2012 at UFC 143, which snapped an 11-fight winning streak. Could they run things back?
Please say Nick vs Condit 2 at UFC 264 in Vegas!! 5 round co-main event – Let’s Goooooo!!!!!! @CarlosCondit
— Ryan Reinero (@ryreinero) April 24, 2021
Diaz vs. Paul?
Please say your fighting @jakepaul to put an end to this silliness
— James (@jc3527) April 24, 2021
Fans just excited to see him
Looking the best he has been in years. I know we all want to see you fight Robbie Lawler
— Arkib (@MohammedAaqib95) April 24, 2021
My favorite fighter of all time! Please make a comeback! You are in shape and ready to go. Let’s do this! #DiazArmy
— Double Social Media Champ (@SteveKlones) April 24, 2021
The original BMF
— El Crÿptó (@cryptO_Juic3) April 24, 2021
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