Nick Diaz was last seen in action in the main event of UFC 183, fighting former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva to a no contest.
While UFC President Dana White hasn’t spoken to Diaz about a comeback fight, members of the matchmaking team apparently have.
“Well I haven’t [spoken with Nick], but I know that our matchmakers have,” White told ESPN. “But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I don’t think Nick Diaz wants to fight. I don’t think Nick has that love and that passion for fighting. I think it’s sort of a love-hate relationship for him. All the things that Nick has and has done is because of fighting, but I don’t think he loves to do it.”
Nick’s brother Nate Diaz returned to action after an extended layoff earlier this year, defeating former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis at UFC 241 and suffering a loss to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244.
White says there is only one person who could make a decision about coming back and that is Nick himself.
“That’s up to Nick,” White said. “Nick knows whether he wants to fight or not. There’s guys I think should be finished, like I think should retire, because I don’t want to see them get hurt. Maybe I feel they can’t compete at this level anymore, and there are guys they know whether they want to fight or now. They have to make that decision on their own. This isn’t baseball or basketball or one of those sports where you can go out and just half-ass it. You have to be 100 percent in if you come, especially here. If you come to fight in the UFC, these guys are the best in the world, and they’re savages that want to become world champions. If you’re not in the right mindset, this is not the place for you.”
It should be noted that Nick himself has not commented on speaking to the UFC about a potential comeback bout.
