Unlucky Nick Diaz Drops Out of UFC 310
The climate surrounding drug testing has changed to the point where Nick Diaz wouldn’t have had to worry about his marijuana habit. The only problem for Diaz is that he is old now. Diaz, 41, has only fought once since 2015.
He was originally scheduled to come back in December to fight Vicente Luque in a five-round fight. However, Diaz dropped out without a reason being released. The MMAfighting latest news shows that rumors are showing that he may be having personal issues again.
It’s disappointing that Diaz never got a proper send-off from the sport. While there is still time for him to have another fight, it’s hard to see what kind of opponent Diaz would be able to compete with.
What’s Going on With Diaz?
There are plenty of rumors floating around about why Diaz pulled out of the fight. But nothing has been confirmed from the man himself, so it is best not to spread those rumors. What we do know is that Diaz’s girlfriend was concerned enough to post a message on social media that hinted at issues.
The MMA latest updates show that Diaz’s family is no stranger to issues outside the octagon. What derailed Diaz’s career was several suspensions stemming from his use of marijuana. Before Diaz spent much of his UFC career on suspension, he won the welterweight title in Strikeforce in 2010.
UFC 310 Retools With Exciting Co-Main Event
There will be plenty of other options for fans who are still eager to watch the final pay-per-view of the year, which takes place Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. Kai Asakura will be debuting in the UFC and stepping straight into a championship fight with Alexandre Pantoja. It’s rare for a fighter from another promotion to get this opportunity right away.
In the co-main event, another injury may have led to a more interesting fight. While Belal Muhammad was supposed to defend his welterweight belt against Shavkat Rakhmonov, Muhammad had to pull out with an injury. Ian Machado Garry, who is 15-0, will step in to fight the 18-0 Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Another interesting fight on the UFC 310 card will be a heavyweight battle between Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov. Tom Aspinall is next in line for Jon Jones, but there are plenty of opportunities for fighters to position themselves to fight the winner.
After being embarrassed by Jones, Gane should be eager to put himself back in the conversation.
What Kind of Fighter Was Diaz?
Diaz grew a large audience because of his tremendous skill and ability to finish fights. While Diaz may not be the same fighter now, his peak was filled with plenty of memorable moments. Diaz has a 26-10 record in his career.
Diaz has 13 wins by knockout and eight by submission. His most memorable moment in the UFC may have come in a non-title fight in 2015. During a fight with Anderson Silva, Diaz dropped down to the mat and attempted to get Silva to come and grapple with him.
But Silva didn’t acquiesce and ended up winning a close striking battle. After the fight, both fighters failed their drug tests, and the fight was declared no contest.
Who Will Replace Diaz?
Luque didn’t want to lose the opportunity to have a fight to wrap up 2024. When it comes to MMA breaking news, it was quickly announced that Themba Gorimbo signed to fill in for Luque. Gorimbo may be better known for his life story than his ability to fight.
Gorimbo has collected four straight wins after losing his UFC debut by submission. However, Gorimbo is most famous for talking about how he only had $7 in his account before a fight. This story caught the eye of The Rock, who purchased Gorimbo a house.
Since then, Gorimbo has dedicated himself to fighting full time. While Gorimbo memorably knocked out Pete Rodriguez in February, his last two fights have been underwhelming. Gorimbo ended up wrestling his way to decision wins over Ramiz Brahimaj and Niko Price.
Luque Has a Lot to Prove
Luque is in a tough spot in his career. During 2021, Luque wrapped up a four-fight winning streak by submitting Michael Chiesa in the first round. Since then, Luque has suffered a number of difficult defeats.
Luque has lost three of his past four fights, a streak that started with a decision loss to now-champion Belal Muhammad in April 2022. During Luque’s last fight, he took a surprising knockout loss to Joaquin Buckley.
Buckley has won five consecutive fights but was mostly viewed as a journeyman fighter until recently. However, making the move to welterweight seems to have reinvigorated Buckley’s career.
Should Diaz Bother Coming Back?
Think hard. Try to name who Diaz beat during his last win in the UFC. That notch in Diaz’s belt came when he scored a unanimous decision victory over B.J. Penn in October 2011. Penn hasn’t fought in the UFC since 2019.
It’s always hard for athletes to step away from their respective sports. For Diaz, it has been a lifetime since he was able to compete successfully. During Diaz’s last appearance in the UFC, he was stopped in the third round by Robby Lawler, who is another former champion who was well past his prime at the time.
There was a time when the Diaz Army was a major fixture in MMA arenas. There will always be love for Nick and his brother, Nate. But both have seen their skills erode, and it is time to put an end to that era in the sport.
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By Dean McHugh.
