If Kamaru Usman were playing UFC matchmaker, a welterweight bout pitting Nick Diaz vs Matt Brown is something he “wouldn’t mind seeing.”
In September, Diaz (26-10) made his return to the Octagon for the first time in over six years. For some, the 38-years-olds performance was a letdown, after he looked slow at times, and had a “no mas” moment when he chose not to continue his fight with Robbie Lawler (28-15) after getting knocked down in the third round. However, current welterweight king Kamaru Usman (19-1) liked what he saw from the Stockton native at UFC 266.
Although he expected his former Sanford MMA teammate Lawler to win, he believes that Diaz put forth an admirable performance considering how long he was away from the sport.
Kamara Usman thought Nick Diaz did a ‘great job’ at UFC 266
“That was an entertaining fight. Being out for over six years, It’s challenging to be able to come out; people expect him to perform the way that he used to perform at the height of his career. But from what I saw, I thought he did a great job,” Usman said in an interview with veteran MMA reporter Helen Yee. “Obviously, Robbie [Lawler] was just too much. And I picked Robbie to win that because Robbie’s actually had activity, and you know, Robbie’s a tough dude. I liked what I saw out of Nick Diaz.”
In the lead-up to his bout with Lawler, Diaz made it know he was not happy to have a rematch with a man he knocked out 17 years earlier, and that he thought he should be in a fight with Usman instead. Saying, “I think I’ll beat the sh*t out of Usman. I’ll have a better shot against Usman than I do Lawler, just because I already beat Lawler.”
The champ as the perfect opponent for a Diaz return fight
Suffice to say, after his performance at UFC 266, Diaz won’t be getting any title fight offers from the champ. However, “The Nigerian Nightmare” would like to see the former Strikeforce champion fight again. And if Diaz is up for another go-around in the Octagon, Usman thinks he knows the perfect opponent for him.”
“If he’s willing to come back, I think he just has to be smarter with the fights he picks. Because he’s in that position, where he can pick fights. I wouldn’t mind seeing him and Matt Brown throw down,” said Usman. “I think that’s a tremendous fight. That’s just a great fight. I wouldn’t mind seeing that.”
Usman’s next booking will be in the main event of UFC 268 when he faces Colby Covington in a championship rematch of their UFC 245 welterweight classic from 2019.
What are your thoughts on a fight between Diaz and “The Immortal”?
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