Nick Diaz vs. Michael Bisping? 'I love that fight,' UFC boss says

If Nick Diaz is really ready to come out of retirement for the right fight, veteran UFC middleweight Michael Bisping is willing to fight him. While it seems like an unlikely scenario, one pivotal figure has signed off on the possibility.

“I love that fight,” UFC President Dana White today tweeted.

The chatter began after Diaz’s teammate, UFC 166 main-card competitor Gilbert Melendez, recently said he expected the former Strikeforce champion would end his current retirement if a convincing offer came along. Melendez said it could be MMA or boxing or kickboxing.

When Bisping (24-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC), who’s currently recovering from an eye injury, caught wind of the comments, he offered his services. As he tweeted: “Well if Diaz wants a fight at 185 I would happily welcome him to the division.”

Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC), whose done most of work at welterweight, retired in the cage following a title loss to welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in March. The bout came 13 months after a narrow decision loss to Carlos Condit for the interim belt. After that 2012 fight, the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Diaz for a year due to a second failed drug test (marijuana).

Few in the industry, though, have taken Diaz’s retirement too seriously. However, though there was brief speculation about a new deal and though White recently offered him a fight with middleweight Lyoto Machida, Diaz has given no indication he’s seriously contemplating a return to the cage.

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(Pictured: Nick Diaz)