Nick Diaz seeks to return to UFC, wants to challenge Anderson Silva

According to a post on graciefighter.com by Cesar Gracie, Nick Diaz (27-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) wants to return to the Octagon and may have his eyes set on facing UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.

Diaz has not fought since his loss in February to Carlos Condit at UFC 143 for the interim Welterweight title. After his loss by decision, Diaz announced his retirement from the UFC. A few days later, he was suspended for a year by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, because he tested positive for marijuana, his second offense in Nevada.

Gracie wrote: “For the last couple of months I’ve watched Nick begin to frequent the gym more and more. He’s training harder now than he has for many of his fights. It was obvious that training and fighting is in his DNA. It is who he is. This week we had a great talk and he made it clear to me that he is ready to get back to the cage. Nick Diaz will return. I will be meeting with Dana (White) next Monday August 6th to discuss this and other issues. If you appreciate Nick’s fighting style, please let Dana know that you want Nick back ASAP.”

Diaz was supposed to fight Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 137. However, he was pulled from the fight for missing press conferences in advance of the bout. He was replaced by Carlos Condit. After St. Pierre was hurt again, Condit faced Diaz at UFC 143. Apparently, neither a rematch with Condit or a fight against St. Pierre is on Diaz’s mind: “As far as future opponents, Nick has stated that he would like to take fights ‘that matter’. Since GSP will be fighting Condit, he has to look elsewhere. He will respectfully ask for a fight with Anderson Silva, a fighter he respects and would like to challenge. Silva’s camp has been speaking of a fight with GSP, possibly even at a catchweight. Nick will take that fight in a minute but has told me that should Silva decide not to drop at all, he will move up to 185lbs to face the Champ.”

Gracie said that Diaz is planning to challenge his suspension in court with the hope of getting it reduced: “To address the NSAC suspension, I will say that we have appealed to the courts and if things go our way, it will be plausible that Nick could return as early as sometime at the end of this year. For too long NSAC bureaucrats have acted with malicious incompetence towards the fighters. We will challenge them in court.”

Diaz is currently eligible to reapply for a license to fight in Nevada on February 4, 2013.