Nick Diaz Aims UFC Return Before the End of the Year, Calls out Kamaru Usman

Adam Fishkin

May 26, 2022

Nick Diaz might surprise the fans before the end of the year. The older of the Diaz brothers is currently targeting to compete in 2022, and he is preparing for an Ultimate Fighting Championship return. Diaz (26-10, 2 NC; 7-7, 1 NC UFC) doesn’t have an official opponent nor date yet, but the UFC superstar is undoubtedly willing to don the four-ounce gloves one more time. In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, the former Strikeforce and World Extreme Cagefighting champion claimed that he would like to face the current 170-pound kingpin, Kamaru Usman.

“I’m working on the end of the year,” Diaz said. “I’m working on it. I’d rather fight for a title. If I’m gonna fight, I want to fight for a title. That’s the thing and they want to say if I want to fight a bunch of guys and stuff like that, but I’m like, you know what, it’s a bigger fight if you just skip all the mess. I don’t want to go in there and get my ass whooped by one of those young guys anyway. And it’s not that I won’t win, it’s just that I’m not motivated to fight somebody that’s, you know… I want to fight for the title, I’m 38 years old.”

Diaz has recently lost to former UFC titleholder Robbie Lawler as the pair locked horns at UFC 266 in September 2021. It was the first time 38-year-old Diaz had competed in more than six years. Still, he believes he has what it takes to dethrone Usman. When asked to send a message to his potential opponent, the Cesar Gracie Fight Team standout sounded concise and confident.

“I think I can beat you. I’d love it if they gave me a shot. I think I can beat you.”

After defending his championship from Colby Covington’s assault in November 2021, Usman (20-1, 15-0 UFC) started chasing a boxing match with multiple-division titleholder Canelo Alvarez. We’ll see whether “The Nigerian Nightmare” will answer Diaz’s callout.