Nick Diaz wants Anderson Silva

[Rob_Floyd]

Former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz has ended his brief retirement and will seek a bout against middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva.

Diaz's trainer/manager Cesar Gracie revealed the information Friday on graciefighter.com.

"To see Nick leave at the top of his game was difficult," Gracie said. "For the last couple of months I've watched Nick begin to frequent the gym more and more. He's training harder now than he has for many of his fights.

"It was obvious that training and fighting is in his DNA. It is who he is. This week we had a great talk, and he made it clear to me that he is ready to get back in the cage. Nick Diaz will return."

Gracie did not provide a specific date for Diaz's return, but acknowledged the fighter hopes to be back in action by the end of this year.

Before Diaz can resume his mixed martial arts career, he must seek reinstatement of his fighting license from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Diaz was suspended one year by the NSAC in May after testing positive for marijuana metabolites following his UFC interim welterweight title fight Feb. 4 against Carlos Condit.

Diaz announced his retirement from mixed martial arts shortly after his suspension.

It was Diaz's second marijuana-related offense.

In 2007, the NSAC suspended Diaz for six months after he tested positive for THC, an active ingredient in the drug, following a victory over Takanori Gomi. The result of that fight was later changed to a no-contest.

Diaz's current suspension is dated retroactively to Feb. 4. The fighter and his handlers have already begun the appeals process.

"We have appealed to the courts, and if things go our way, it will be plausible that Nick could return as early as sometime at the end of this year," Gracie said. "For too long NSAC bureaucrats have acted with malicious incompetence toward the fighters.

"We will challenge them in court."

Should the courts overturn Diaz's suspension and he's allowed to resume fighting immediately, his team plans to petition UFC for a title fight with Silva.

In the meantime, Gracie said he has a meeting "to discuss this and other issues" with UFC president Dana White scheduled for Aug. 6.

"As far as future opponents, Nick has stated that he would like to take fights 'that matter,'" Gracie said. "Since (welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre) will be fighting (interim titleholder) Carlos Condit, he has to look elsewhere.

"He will respectfully ask for a fight with Anderson Silva, a fighter he respects and would like to challenge. Silva's camp has been speaking of a fight with (St. Pierre), possibly even a catch weight. Nick will take that fight in a minute but has told me that should Silva decide not to drop at all, he will move up to 185 pounds to face the champ."

Before losing to Condit, Diaz (26-8, with one no-contest) put together an 11-fight win streak. He successfully defended the Strikeforce 170-pound title three times before vacating it in 2011 to return to UFC.

Nick is one of my favorite fighters, but I really don't see this being a good idea.

[CrimsonBeast]

Originally Posted by Rob_Floyd

Nick is one of my favorite fighters, but I really don't see this being a good idea.

wait, he was scared to fight mayhem miller but wants anderson?

[HeGlassedMe]

Too bad DW and GSP don't have this ****er's confidence... or lunacy.

[Rob_Floyd]

Originally Posted by CrimsonBeast

wait, he was scared to fight mayhem miller but wants anderson?

Didn't Diaz offer a fight at 180 or something that Mayhem refused?

[CrimsonBeast]

Originally Posted by Rob_Floyd

Didn't Diaz offer a fight at 180 or something that Mayhem refused?

hmm i honestly don't remember that but I remember in his youtube videos he seemed afraid (The first time i've seen em afraid of anyone btw). I dislike Diaz but, i have respect for em as a fighter. I'd watch the fight. I'm curious to see how his striking matches up to Silva's.

[James23]

It's not a good idea unless you just want to give Anderson an easy win.

Some Diaz fans are just plainly delusional. Almost on par with the Penn fans pre-UFC 94 (or even post-UFC 94).

[KERRIGAN]

Nick must be smoking too much of the wacky tobaccy.

Diaz isn't a big 170 pounder, and if Nick couldn't catch cowardly Condit running around the ring, then Silva would be too quick for him.

[SugarShane_24]

This would probably look like the Leben fight.

Diaz would stand in front of Silva feeling he can take his opponent's power.

Then BAM! out in a minute.

[Rob_Floyd]

Originally Posted by SugarShane_24

This would probably look like the Leben fight.

Maybe, but would you also say that Diaz would probably **** Leben up pretty bad if they fought?

[BobDigi5060]

Anderson Silva would tap that ass.

[gyll]

I doubt GSP would fight Silva. Out of respect Bones doesn't want him either. So let's move on to who would actually fight Anderson. Weidman and all these other upcomers need more fights to prove themselves. Besides, there is no rush. Bring on Nick. Yeah, sure he might get destroyed. But that's what Silva does - he destroys people. If it's gonna be a mismatch might as well make it a fan friendly fight between two of the biggest stars in the game. I guarantee you for however long it lasts it will be pure brutal action. Silva is obviously the favorite to win but Diaz is always a live dog especially when you consider father time can strike at any moment for Silva.

[scurlaruntings]

Has Nick woke up and ran out of weed? Someone tell this bum to stay retired. He couldn't even turn up for the GSP fight and now he wants Silva? This dude is such a ****in goon.

[Kittikasem]

Nick is an excellent fighter, but he should be chasing a rematch with Condit or wanting to fight one of the other top 5 guys in his own division. Fighting Anderson at 185 is a sure-fire way to get owned.

[AJAX]

Great idea Nick! I'm sure they are getting the contract ready as we speak.

[achillesthegreat]

Silva would get ****ing surgical on him. It would be criminal. If Nick is tough, he'll get beat up more. If he is human, he is done inside 1 or max 2.