The UFC Abu Dhabi card is stacking up to the brim! UFC head honcho Dana White recently announced Nick Diaz’s return to the card. He faces Vicente Luque in the feature co-mains of UFC Fight Night 2024: Abu Dhabi. Aug. 3. Diaz’s return to the fold has left fans and pundits on a high string. Ahead of which, Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier wishes to see a good last stand
Cormier recently spoke about Diaz’s return bout. The elder Diaz brother had a poor outing against Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in 2021. Moreover, the upcoming drop to the 170-pound marks his first welterweight bout since fighting Georges St-Pierre in 2013. Nick Diaz remains extremely dreaded due to his extended cardio. As such, Cormier hopes Diaz can put on a great performance.
I [always] say these things, right…and I am not making comparisons…but I do recognize that a great champion always has one last night. I watched George Foreman at 47 years old…he was old, a little out of shape…[yet] knocked him out…Every great champion has one night left. So for me, it’s about seeing if Nick has one more night…He might not; give him the benefit of the doubt…this dude has earned an opportunity.
Daniel Cormier via ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto (@ESPNMMA) during UFC 302 Media Day
Even when not shooting for the gold, every champion and top crop wants to prove they have that one “last dance” left. Recent memory serves up consensus boxing heavyweight Mike Tyson returning to a pro-sanction bout at 58 despite critical risk to health. As Daniel Cormier says, the legendary George Foreman KOed Michael Moorer for the IBF/WBA World Heavy titles at quite an age. St-Pierre was no different in MMA.
Diaz’s old rival remains a top welterweight G.O.A.T candidate because he returned for one last middleweight bid and won the gold. The former Strikeforce champion’s return could result in similar adequacy. Inching closer to the bantamweight top spot, ‘King of Rio’ Jose Aldo recently proved one can never dismiss the veterans. As such, Cormier hopes the same for the elder Diaz brother.
Daniel Cormier believes Nick Diaz should have fought Tony Ferguson instead of Vicente Luque
The UFC return of Nick Diaz on the main card of UFC Abu Dhabi has taken the MMA world by storm. The fight happens on August 3 at UFC on ABC 7 from Etihad Arena. The 40-year-old MMA pioneer appeared to be back in the gym recently, teasing fans of an imminent return. The final call now has him facing Vicente Luque in a five-round co-main event.
There are riskier matches for Nick Diaz at UFC on ABC 7 (Source: afight.com/Instagram)Despite only fighting four times since 2011, Diaz is still popular with MMA fans worldwide. His antics and willingness to go toe-to-toe have earned him a devout following. Facing a 32-year-old striker out of Kill Cliff FC poses its dangers. However, ‘DC’ believes Luque is on a bad spell himself.
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…Confusion in terms of who the matchup is. Tony Ferguson’s fighting on the card, too. Put them together. That makes more sense…I don’t feel like after watching Vicente Luque in the last fight,…that he’s still that aggressive guy that we remember back in the day…
Daniel Cormier to ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto (@ESPNMMA)
‘The Silent Assassin’ is 1-3 in his past four outings. Vicente Luque last incurred a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 54. Hence, Daniel Cormier promotes there’s riskier takes. Some fans wanted a veteran’s matchup between Diaz and Tony Ferguson. It is a notion Cormier also felt made more sense.
Ferguson, 40, like Diaz, is 0-7 in his last, while the Stockton standout is on a winless streak. Therefore, a sentiment that the MMA clique tends to agree on is that Nick Diaz vs. Ferguson would make more sense as a legacy matchup. Regardless of his concerns, Cormier hopes both have one last spectacular performance.
