Nick Diaz pushes for UFC 300 fight against Colby Covington before securing Abu Dhabi return

Nick Diaz returns to UFC after 7 years, facing Vicente Luque in Abu Dhabi. Originally wanted bigger names like GSP and Covington.

Nick Diaz had his sights set on various opponents before ultimately agreeing to a fight with Vicente Luque at UFC Abu Dhabi. Dana White recently announced the return of the former Strikeforce champion in August, marking his first fight since a loss to Robbie Lawler in 2021 after a long break from the sport.

Facing off against welterweight contender Vicente Luque, known as 'The Silent Assassin', Diaz initially sought out bigger names for his comeback. Ariel Helwani shared on The MMA Hour that Diaz explored matchups with Michael 'Venom' Page, Kevin Holland, and even Georges St-Pierre before settling on Luque. Additionally, Diaz expressed interest in a showdown with former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington at UFC 300, but other options fell through.

Despite initial preferences, Diaz eventually agreed to the fight with Luque in Abu Dhabi after other potential matchups didn't materialize. Helwani noted that the process of securing an opponent for Diaz had been ongoing for some time, with the fighter aiming for high-profile bouts that didn't come to fruition. Ultimately, the opportunity to face Luque in Abu Dhabi was presented and Diaz accepted, ready to make his return to the octagon.

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