UFC superstar Nick Diaz to make hugely anticipated return at UFC 235 after four-year hiatus
The UFC fan favourite is set to return to action in 2019 having not competed in four years after being sidelined with suspensions and fines
NICK DIAZ is set to to make his highly anticipated UFC return after four years out, reports claim.
Diaz has not fought since 2015, and has since watched his brother, Nate, rise to fame due to his intense rivalry with Conor McGregor.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto took to Twitter to announce that the UFC are close to finalising a deal that would see Diaz return at UFC 235 on March 2 next year in Las Vegas.
Okamoto reported that NO9 ranked UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal is the targeted opponent for Diaz’s return.
Diaz's last fight saw him step up from welterweight to middleweight to take on modern great Anderson Silva.
Silva would go on to outpoint Diaz over five rounds in the main-event of UFC 183 - however, controversy would follow after the fight.
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Immediately after the bout the UFC learned that Diaz had failed his post-fight drug test for marijuana metabolites.
Silva later tested positive for drostanolone, androstane, oxazepem, and temazepam in pre-fight drug screening.
The fight was declared a no-contest, however, Diaz was slapped with a five-year ban by the Nevada State Athletic Commision for his failed marijuana test.
Diaz spent would spend four months appealing the ban and eventually got it reduced to just 18 months and a $100,000 fine.
However, after all the time spent appealing the decision Diaz has not fought since.
Because Diaz failed to pay his NSAC fines he was not eligible to corner his brother, Nate, in his high profile fights with rival McGregor.
Diaz won the Strikeforce welterweight title when he beat Marius Žaromskis in Janurary 2010 and went on to defend the belt three times before returning to the UFC.
After Diaz made his final Strikeforce title defence against Paul Daley in April 2011 he returned to the UFC after five years away from the promotion.
On Diaz’s UFC return he defeated legend BJ Penn but would later fail at attempts to win the UFC interim and world title at welterweight.
Carlos Condit beat Diaz for the Interim title while Georges St-Pierre successfully defended his welterweight title against Diaz in March 2013.