Stockton's native son, Nick Diaz, is finally set to return to the UFC and, man, it couldn't have come at a better time. The former Strikeforce champion has long been one of the most enigmatic figures in MMA and the question now, as it has always been, is what could possibly be next for Nick Diaz?
Well, things are a bit simpler than usual right now—we know Diaz is going to fight again at some point in the coming months, but against who? Well, that's what we're here to discuss.
So who is the most likely opponent for Diaz to face in his UFC return? Who would be the most entertaining fight? Find out right here!
Anderson Silva
We may as well get the biggest name out of the way right off. There are already rumors swirling that a Nick Diaz vs. Anderson Silva super-ish fight is being lined up for spring 2015.
Does the fight make sense for any involved party? Absolutely not.
Diaz has a clear path to the welterweight title, and it's hard to imagine that the UFC wouldn't be willing to give him a crack at Robbie Lawler from day one. For Silva, Diaz is kind of an odd choice for a possible swan song, and opponents like Cung Le and Michael Bisping (and, for Le in particular, a catchweight fight at 195 or 205) seem very possible.
Still, it's a fight that is years in the making, and it's one that is hard not to be excited for.
Michael Bisping
Former MiddleEasy owner and "Skrap Pack" mouthpiece Zeus Tipado stated that Diaz is exclusively looking for high-profile opponents at this time:
@malkikawa Catchweight, only looking for superfights.
— Zeus Tipado (@tipado) July 27, 2014
In the same vein as a fight with Anderson Silva, a bout with Michael Bisping would be an intriguing super-ish fight. While it lacks the glamour of a fight with "The Spider" and wouldn't be a top-flight, pay-per-view-quality main event, it's still an interesting battle between radically different striking styles.
While he's no Anderson Silva, Bisping is still a name brand fighter who would be able to add a great deal of intrigue to this fight. In fact, the buildup alone would make this one of Diaz's most intriguing potential opponents.
Diego Sanchez
Before Nick Diaz was jeering Johny Hendricks, before he sank Strikeforce by sucker-punching Jason "Mayhem" Miller on national television, and even before his legendary hospital brawl with Joe Riggs, there was his rivalry with Diego Sanchez.
It had everything. Wacky moments (Diaz throwing his shoe). An overarching storyline (TUF fighters vs. non-TUF fighters). Eccentric characters (you probably don't need me to explain this one).
It also had a pretty fun fight, too.
Well, even though the years haven't been as kind to Sanchez as they have been to Diaz, this is still one of the many old rivalries that would be a dream to see brought back to life. And hey, apparently a win over Diego Sanchez is enough to get you a title shot these days.
