NICK DIAZ will be fighting former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler in a long-awaited return fight. It will now take place at middleweight.
Fans favourites Lawler and Diaz will rekindle their rivalry at UFC 266 in Las Vegas on Sunday morning.
UFC fan favorite Nick Diaz will be making his return to the Octagon this weekend
The eagerly awaited rematch between the pair - the most talked about fight on the card- was originally scheduled to be a welterweight bout.
According to Ariel Helwani (MMA journalist), the fight will now take place at 185 lbs.
Helwani wrote in his Substack, "Saturday's Nick Diaz against Robbie Lawler 2 fight has changed from a Welterweight fight to one that is middleweight according to sources.
"A reason for the late change was not revealed. Sources say that the fight will continue to be a non-title five-round fight.
UFC chief Dana White stated that Diaz and his team asked for the fight to move up to middleweight.
He texted me on Tuesday night that Robbie Lawler had sent him and that he would hit me when he lands.
BETTING SPECIAL - GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1"So Robbie wants me to talk about this whole deal.
"So, this all happened while I was out of town this week. "So yeah, I'm sure the Diaz camps want to fight at 85."
Both men have competed at middleweight before, Diaz at 185lbs in his previous outing six years back and Lawler at 185lbs during Elite XC.
Favorite Diaz, the older brother to UFC star Nate, hasn't been inside the Octagon in more than six years.
At UFC 183, Anderson Silva, the future Hall-of-Famer, was the last to face the former Strikeforce welterweight champion.
Diaz was defeated unanimously by the Brazilian. However, the result of the contest was rescheduled to a no-contest when Silva was found to have metabolites of anabolic steroids and synthetic testosterone.
Stockton's native Stockton also failed his post-fight drug screening, and was found to have tested positive for marijuana metabolites the third time.
Initial suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission for MMA legend was five years. However, it was reduced to just 18 months after a successful appeal.
Lawler and Diaz, both 39 and 37 years respectively, fought 17 years ago in Las Vegas at UFC 47.
Cult hero Diaz defeated Ruthless in the first round and has promised to perform again in their second Sin City showdown.
He stated that he was not going to go out and call him names. I'm going to be a lot more sportmanlike out there.
"That wasn't what won me the fight last time. He was a bit surprised by that, but I would have won the fight regardless.
"I will be unstoppable if I make the right decision. So, I'm gonna beat Robbie again."
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