Nick Diaz rematching UFC welterweight champ Robbie Lawler? It's possible

Nick Diaz will be cleared to fight in August after reaching a settlement with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Tuesday that saw his five-year suspension reduced to 18 months, and when he does return, another UFC title shot could be in the offing.

A rematch between Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC) and UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler (27-10 MMA, 12-4 UFC) has been on the wish list of many fans since their first showdown more than a decade ago at UFC 47 in 2004. UFC President Dana White didn’t rule out the possibility (via Twitter):

It’s not the first time he’s mentioned the potential rematch, though the stars may finally be aligning.

Although they were both relatively inexperienced at the time of their first fight, Lawler’s history of vicious knockout wins positioned him as the favorite. However, after an entertaining first round, Diaz caught Lawler with a punch early in the second frame. Lawler collapsed to the ground face-first in what still stands as his only career knockout loss.

Lawler and Diaz went their separate ways after that fight, but in many ways, they also kept close. The next several years saw both men spend time in PRIDE, EliteXC and Strikeforce, but the rematch was never booked.

Lawler hit a slump and put together an up-and-down record in his time outside the UFC. Diaz turned a corner and entered his prime with a lengthy winning streak that included a stint as Strikeforce welterweight champion.

More than a decade after the first fight, though, Lawler and Diaz are back in the UFC.

“Ruthless” is the reigning UFC welterweight champion after capturing the title from Johny Hendricks at UFC 181 in December 2014. He’s since made two successful defenses of the belt with a split-decision win over Carlos Condit and a comeback TKO victory over Rory MacDonald in “Fight of the Year”-caliber affairs.

Diaz, on the other hand, is coming off a trying out-of-competition experience. He was flagged for marijuana metabolites following his January 2015 bout with Anderson Silva, and the NSAC subsequently suspended him for five years. After months of uproar about the stiff penalty and mounting a legal defense, Diaz finally reached a settlement that saw his harsh punishment significantly reduced (see the above video).

Although Diaz is on a three-fight winless skid and hasn’t earned a victory since he battered B.J. Penn at UFC 137 in October 2011, he’s still one of the biggest names in the sport and possesses a loyal following of supporters.

If Diaz can avoid any issues on his way back to the octagon, it could potentially set up a rematch with Lawler more than 12 years in the making.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.