Despite Not Wanting Robbie Lawler Rematch, Nick Diaz Will Meet Him At Middleweight

On Saturday, Nick Diaz will be returning to the octagon after almost a six-year break.

Diaz and Robbie Lawler’s first bout was held in welterweight and was scheduled in that division too, but Lawler announced that he moved up to middleweight, so this matchup will be bumped up to that weight category as well.

On Wednesday, Diaz thought out loud and said he “doesn’t know why” he’s fighting Lawler again.

Diaz is stepping in the octagon with Lawler, his former rival and former welterweight champion. They first fought back in 2004.

Diaz served Lawler his second MMA career loss via second-round KO.

The last time Diaz fought was at UFC 183 in 2015.

He faced legendary Anderson Silva, and suffered a loss, but NSAC overturned this fight to a No Contest. The last time he celebrated victory inside the cage was almost 10 years ago, against BJ Penn at UFC 137.

Lawler been in a downfall.

For a while, he previously won a title, and offered fans lots of tough and brutal fights full of blood.

But after being dethroned by Tyron Woodley, he managed to earn only one victory against Donald Cerrone. Since then, he has been on a four-fight losing streaks against names like Rafael dos Anjos, Ben Askren, Colby Covington and Neil Magny.

UFC 266 is going to take place on September 25 in T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega will headline and the co-main event will feature a female title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Lauren Murphy.

Even though Diaz-Lawler is not the main event and title fight, he will be fighting under a potential 5 rounds.

This will be the second five-rounder battle in the history of the UFC, which will be a non-main event and non-title. The first one was between Nick’s younger brother, Nate Diaz and Leon Edwards.