Fight cancellations are nothing new in the world of MMA. But scrapping of this highly anticipated one stings a bit more. Fans eager to see Nick Diaz back in action will have to wait a little longer. The highly anticipated Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque bout has been called off. This disappointing news comes just weeks before the UFC Abu Dhabi event on August 3.
The UFC announced the cancellation during the UFC Vegas 94 broadcast on Saturday. They cited vague “travel issues” as the reason for pulling the plug. It’s unclear which fighter faced these problems, leaving fans to speculate.
Diaz, a fan favorite known for his brash style, hasn’t fought since 2021. His last win was against B.J. Penn in 2011. Many wondered if the elder Diaz brother still had what it takes to compete. On the other hand, Luque has been a consistent force in the welterweight division. He, however, also lost his recent fight against Joaquin Buckley.
The UFC hopes to reschedule the bout, but no details have been confirmed. This leaves both fighters in limbo, training for a showdown that may or may not happen. Diaz’s return was set to be a major storyline for the Abu Dhabi card. He was supposed to be in the co-main event of a major card. In true UFC fashion, they’ve already found a replacement co-main event.
Nick Diaz’s Former Coach Fully Against The Vicente Luque Matchup
The MMA community was buzzing with news of Diaz’s upcoming comeback fight. But not everyone was thrilled about the Stockton slugger’s return to the octagon. Cesar Gracie, Diaz’s former coach, had voiced his reservations about the matchup. He was particularly worried about his former student facing Luque on August 3 in Abu Dhabi.
Gracie didn’t mince words when speaking to Submission Radio about the fight. The veteran coach’s concerns stemmed from multiple factors. For one, he was not keen on Diaz traveling overseas for the bout. Additionally, Gracie viewed Luque as a formidable opponent for Diaz’s return fight.
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“ If I was advising Nick, I wouldn’t have advised him to do that fight. It’s in Abu Dhabi. I wouldn’t advise to go fight overseas at this point. Especially [to fight] Luque, who is a very tough guy.” stated Gracie.
At 40 years old, Diaz’s current athletic form remains a big question mark. Gracie revealed he hadn’t seen Diaz training with other fighters lately. The Brazillian fighter, however, is no stranger to tough fights. He’s faced a who’s who of MMA legends throughout his career. The former WEC welterweight champion has traded blows with the best, from Anderson Silva to Georges St-Pierre. But with the bout already scrapped from the UFC Abu Dhabi, it begs the question if fans would see the elder Diaz ever again in the Octagon.
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