This week the UFC announced that Nick Diaz would be coming back to fight Vicente Luque on the UFC Saudi Arabia card in early August. Many fans and media were excited to see Diaz back again but worried by the tough match-up he was given. And former two-division champion turned UFC commentator Daniel Cormier is one of those people.
“I was very shocked,” Cormier said of the fight announcement on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel. “After watching Nick Diaz compete the last time, I was like, ‘Okay, he’s done.’ But when I heard the news, I was excited! I got so excited because it’s like how often do we get an opportunity to see a guy that meant so much to us? I watched him in Strikeforce, I do all that."
But Cormier says the excitement wore off when he saw who Diaz was going to be facing.
“Now, the matchup, that’s a little worrisome for me because Robbie Lawler seemed to be at the same stage in his career as him. Vicente Luque is not there. This is a much more dangerous fight for Nick Diaz. I just hope that he shows a better form this time. Honestly, man, excitement because I get to see a guy that I’ve watched for a long time. Confusion in terms of who the matchup is. Tony Ferguson’s fighting on the card, too. Put them together. That makes more sense to me.”
Diaz has fought just once in the last 10 years and didn't look so great doing it. He hasn't won a fight since 2011 when he defeated BJ Penn at UFC 137.
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