Is Nick Diaz Fighting Anderson Silva Only For The Paycheck?

UFC 183 is set to go down this Saturday (January 31, 2015) live on pay-per-view (PPV) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event features one of the biggest fights in UFC history and the closest thing we’ve ever seen to a “superfight” as former long-time middleweight king Anderson “The Spider” Silva returns from a brutal leg injury to take on Stockton Bad Boy Nick Diaz, who is returning from a two year hiatus of his own.

Both legends are returning from lengthy layoffs, but each fighter has a very different situation. Silva really has no need to return. He is widely considered to be the greatest fighter of all time, and has accomplished more than anyone in MMA history. So why is “The Spider” returning to action? Well that’s easy, fighting is what he does, it’s inside of him. He truly has a love for fighting and simply can’t hang up the gloves just yet.

For Diaz, he is returning from a self-imposed semi-retirement. Constantly saying only big fights would get him back in the cage, it looks as if a bout with Silva did the trick as it’s obviously a huge fight. But what’s rather odd in the Stockton native’s case, is that he is notorious for saying that he actually hates fighting. He can be seen in the UFC 183 promos saying that to love fighting, he has to hate it. So why is Diaz really returning to action this weekend?

The only logical reason is that he’s doing it strictly for the paycheck. For someone who hates fighting, I assume Silva would be the last person Diaz wants to see across the cage from him, but obviously the payout will be monumental for such a huge fight.

Another thing to take into consideration, is that the Diaz brothers are known for voicing their strong opinions towards the UFC’s paying system. Issues with his contract was one reason for Diaz going into a semi-retirement and his little brother Nate recently returned at UFC on FOX 13 last December after a long and drawn out contract dispute.

Clearly his mind is on the money, but “The Stockton Bad Boy” has a tall order in front of him this coming weekend. Known for his relentless pace, slick boxing, and go-forward style, many are saying that Diaz plays perfectly into “The Spider’s” counter striking method.

Although the fight will likely play out on the feet, both men are also very skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners, Diaz owning a black belt under Caesar Gracie, while Silva possesses his under the legendary Nogueira brothers.

In the end, only one legend will stand. What are your thoughts? Will “The Spider” return and find his love for fighting once again, or will Diaz upset the greatest of all time and earn the biggest paycheck of his life in the process?