Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans were looking forward to Nick Diaz’s return earlier this year at UFC Abu Dhabi, where he was scheduled to fight top-ranked welterweight contender Vicente Luque. But Diaz’s return was cut short when travel issues scuppered the fight, and fans were left to ponder when or even if the clash of the two warriors would take place.
A Canceled Showdown: Nick Diaz vs. Luque
The fight between Nick Diaz and Vicente Luque was expected to be a barnburner, and it would have been his first fight since 2015. The Brazilian-born 32-year-old Vicente Luque, ‘The Silent Assassin,’ was buoyant in fighting his brother, who is 39 years old and still a figure in the UFC. Audiences wanted to know if the fighter could return to wrestling and compete against a man half his age. However, the UFC Abu Dhabi event flew away due to travel issues, so the fight was never made to happen.
Questions About Rescheduling
Some questions remained a mystery after the Nick Diaz-Luque fight was canceled on August 3. Would the UFC look for a new date for the fight or will the fight be thrown out completely? Lately, no announcement has been made regarding the new date, and many people are wondering whether the two welterweights will have an option to fight this year. Should the UFC decide to rebook the fight, it will be a significant fight for both participants. For Nick Diaz, it will be the chance to return to the cage after the victory, and for Luque, it will be a breakthrough to climb back to the top of the division or at least get closer to it.
Before this planned comeback, Nick Diaz had not fought since his UFC 183 fight against Anderson Silva ‘The Spider’ in January 2015. The fight was declared a no-contest since Silva was caught with banned substances in his system. He was also suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission associated with marijuana metabolite. Nick Diaz has not fought in the Octagon since then, but his name has been on the lips of MMA fans, with many of the fans waiting for his comeback.
Vicente Luque’s Struggles
This has been the case although Luque has been on a rollercoaster ride in the UFC during the time that he was inactive from the sport. After having been just one fight away from a title shot in 2022, Luque’s fortunes have turned for the worse, having lost three of his last four bouts. His skid started with a loss to the current welterweight champion, Belal Muhammad, and ended with a TKO loss at the hands of upcoming contender Joaquin Buckley in March. However, the 31-year-old Cuban is now ranked number 14 in the official welterweight ranking and seeking a revival.
Conclusion: Diaz vs. Luque in December?
Since both fighters come with something to prove the UFC can reschedule the fight between Nick and Luque for later in the year. December 7 has been proposed for the fight of the year, and it will be an excellent opportunity for him to make a statement as he returns. It is a chance to climb back from the defeat and consolidate Luque’s position in the rankings. Win or lose, spectators are waiting for the Stockton superstar to get back to the cage and continue an outstanding saga of his life. As fight fans wait for official confirmation, one thing is clear. Any event featuring Nick Diaz against Vicente Luque must be considered a match worth seeing.
