UFC legend Nick Diaz is gearing up for a highly anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 310, where he’ll face off against Vicente Luque, and Daniel Cormier is worried.
This marks the final pay-per-view event of the year, and fans are eager to see how Diaz will perform after a three-year hiatus. The last time Diaz stepped into the cage was at UFC 266, where he suffered a loss to former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. Now, with a desire to make a comeback, Diaz is looking to put on a show and remind the world of his fighting skills. However, not everyone is convinced that Diaz is fully prepared for this challenge, including UFC analyst Daniel Cormier.
In a recent conversation with Chael Sonnen on their show Good Guy/Bad Guy, Cormier shared his thoughts and concerns regarding Diaz’s upcoming fight. Cormier, who has watched Diaz’s career closely, expressed both excitement and worry over the 41-year-old fighter’s return to the sport.
Daniel Cormier Expresses Major Worry Ahead of Nick Diaz UFC 310 Comeback
“The thing about Nick Diaz, for me, I want the guy from the pictures. Imma just say it,” Cormier said, “I don’t want to see Nick Diaz that is just ripped. When he fought Robbie Lawler, I was so excited. Because I was like, ‘Man, he’s been back on the triathlons, and he looks even better than he did in his prime.’ Then when he got to the Octagon, he looked nothing like that person. Like a guy that was pushing 40, that hadn’t fought in many, many years and I didn’t know if he still had that fight in him.”
This isn’t the first time Diaz has returned to the UFC after a lengthy absence. Before his UFC 266 fight against Lawler, Diaz was side-lined for six years. In the lead-up to that fight, there was a lot of buzz about how Diaz was physically ready to go, and fans were excited to see him back in the cage. However, when the fight actually happened, Diaz didn’t seem to be the same fighter he once was. His request for a last-minute weight change added to the uncertainty, and many felt that he wasn’t in peak form.
Despite his recent struggles, including a four-fight losing streak, Diaz remains determined to prove that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. Luque, on the other hand, is no easy opponent. Known for his toughness and striking ability, Luque presents a serious challenge for Diaz, especially given the questions surrounding Diaz’s conditioning and mindset.
Which Diaz Will Show Up?
Cormier acknowledged that Luque has had his own ups and downs in recent fights but pointed out that he shouldn’t be underestimated:
“Vicente Luque is thought to be on the decline,” Cormier continued. “I kind of judged him based on how badly Joaquin Buckley beat him. But now watching Joaquin Buckley do what he did to the kid that was 18-1 in St. Louis, what he did to Stephen Thompson…now I look back at Vicente Luque and wonder if I was too quick to judgment.”
Cormier is clearly cautious about writing off Luque, especially given the competition he’s faced. For Diaz, this fight will require complete focus and commitment if he wants to walk away with a win.
“Nick Diaz struggled with Robbie Lawler, and Robbie Lawler was only one fight away from retirement,” Cormier noted, “Vicente Luque is not going anywhere, it’s a tough fight. I think for Nick, though, he has to be really locked in if he wants to go out there and not embarrass himself.”
Diaz’s last victory inside the Octagon came all the way back in 2011, when he defeated BJ Penn at UFC 137. Since then, he’s suffered losses to top fighters like Carlos Condit and Georges St-Pierre in back-to-back title fights. This long stretch without a win has left many wondering if Diaz still has the ability to compete at the elite level.
What do you think of the concerns from Daniel Cormier? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
