Nick Diaz Returning to MMA, Signs Agreement for Five-Round Fight With Robbie Lawler at UFC 266

Per ESPN, 37-year-old Nick Diaz is returning to MMA for his first bout since 2015. Ross Goodman, Diaz’s longtime attorney, stated that Diaz signed a bout agreement to face former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. The fight will go down at UFC 266 later this September in Las Vegas.

Per ESPN sources, Lawler has not yet signed his bout agreement but reportedly wants the matchup. He is expected to sign his agreement soon if he hasn’t already. This will be a non-title, five-round matchup, and it will be held on the main card of the upcoming pay-per-view event.

Nick Diaz last fought against Anderson Silva in a five-round main event at UFC 183 in January 2015. Silva initially won the middleweight fight by unanimous decision. It was later overturned after Silva tested positive for drostanolone and androsterone. Meanwhile, Diaz also tested positive for marijuana for the fight.

Diaz and Lawler first fought at UFC 47 in April 2004. Diaz won the iconic fight with a second-round knockout. Interestingly enough, the fight was put together after the Nevada State Athletic Commission recently voted in favor of no longer disciplining MMA fighters for marijuana use. It’s been an frequent issue throughout Diaz’s MMA career.

UFC 266 is slated for Saturday, September 4. The event will be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.