Former UFC welterweight title challenger and Strikeforce and WEC welterweight champion Nick Diaz was recently released from an involuntary rehabilitation center in Mexico. The 42 year-old spent a year in the facility. Back in the U.S. and free, Diaz plans to return to fighting.
The Stockton icon last fought in September 2021, losing to former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler via TKO in a rematch. Prior to the Lawler fight, Diaz had been out of action for six years. Despite having only fought once in the last 11 cycles around the sun, Diaz plans to become a world champion.
“I see myself becoming world champion,” Diaz said in an exit interview with Baja Rehab. “I see myself becoming world champion. I think it’s easy money. It’s not like before. People are going to see a whole brand new me.”
“For me, I just think that like I wouldn’t have made it this far if I thought there was something that could stop me, you know? That being the next guy I’m standing in front of, or any obstacle, substance abuse, right or wrong. I’m just very confident that I’m going to do better every year, every day.”
Diaz splashed on the scene with an in your face brashness. He became a star after knocking out Robbie Lawler at UFC 47 in April 2004. The event was headlined by the long-awaited first fight between Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He left the fight promotion in 2006 and captured titles in EliteXC and Strikeforce.
From 2008 to 2011, Diaz strung together an 11-fight win streak and fought for the interim UFC welterweight championship against Carlos Condit in the UFC 143 main event. He lost by unanimous decision. Eleven months later he fought Georges St-Pierre for the undisputed 170-pound championship and was outclassed by the Canadian.
