Like a passing case of the munchies, UFC welterweight contender Nick Diaz's plans to retire seem to have faded, and taking the place of that retirement is a burning desire to face UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva.� All this is according to his longtime coach, Cesar Gracie, who posted a lengthy statement on the matter over at GracieFighter.
It was only just February when Diaz purportedly turned his back on the sport, a move prompted by his controversial unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143.��The defeat�came�after a five-round scrap for the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship title, and the bout�saw Condit playing "hit and run" while the Stockton native followed him around and�hurled insults.� Soon after,�it was revealed that�Diaz had tested positive for�marijuana metabolites in a post-fight urinalysis, and the subsequent year-long suspension levied upon him appeared to be the icing on the retirement cake.
Said Gracie:
For the last couple months I've watched Nick begin to frequent the gym more and more.� He's training harder now than he has for many of his fights.� It was obvious that training and fighting is in his DNA.� It is who he is.
This week we had a great talk and he made it clear to me that he is ready to get back in the cage.� Nick Diaz will return.
With interim champ Condit destined to face UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre at UFC 154 in November, who is there for Diaz - an elite,�top-level fighter -�to face that's worthwhile?
As far as future opponents, Nick has stated that he would like to take fights "that matter".� Since GSP will be fighting Condit, he has to look elsewhere.� He will respectfully ask for a fight with Anderson Silva, a fighter he respects and would like to challenge.
Silva's camp has been speaking of a fight with GSP, possibly even at a catchweight.� Nick will take that fight in a minute but has told me that should Silva decide not to drop at all, he will move up to 185lbs to face the Champ.
And there you have it.� Unfortunately, unless Diaz (or, more aptly, his attorneys) can figure out a way around his suspension, ain't nothin' going down 'till February, 2013.� Remember kids, dope is for dopes.� Don't be a dope!
Jim Genia tweets here and wrote this book.� Come at me, bro.
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