Nick Diaz Comes Back, Tony Ferguson Steps Up To Welterweight at UFC Abu Dhabi

Photo: Instagram/Nick Diaz

UFC Abu Dhabi’s card on August 3 just got even more exciting with the addition of two legendary fighters.

Nick Diaz, a former welterweight title challenger, will make his UFC return for the first time in nearly three years. He is set to face Vicente Luque in a five-round co-main event. Meanwhile, Tony Ferguson will move up to welterweight to fight Michael Chiesa.

These new matchups were announced by UFC CEO Dana White on Wednesday. The main event for the card has already been confirmed as Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov. White revealed that this fight will be a No. 1 contender bout, with the winner earning a shot at the bantamweight title.

Photo: Instagram/Nick Diaz

Diaz's return to the octagon is surprising, especially since his last fight against Robbie Lawler in 2021 did not show him in top form. Despite this, the 40-year-old legend has continued training and working with his brother Nate Diaz and other longtime teammates like Gilbert Melendez and Jake Shields. Diaz’s last win was back in 2011 against B.J. Penn, and since then, he has lost to Lawler, Georges St-Pierre, Carlos Condit, and Anderson Silva (though the Silva fight was later ruled a no-contest).

Vicente Luque, on the other hand, is looking to bounce back after a knockout loss to Joaquin Buckley in March. Luque has a record of 1-3 in his last four fights, but he was once close to title contention with a four-fight winning streak that included victories over former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and Randy Brown.

Ferguson’s move to welterweight comes after a tough run of seven straight losses. This fight against Chiesa could be his last, according to White. Ferguson, a former interim lightweight champion, is hoping to turn things around in his new weight class.

Fans are eagerly anticipating these matchups, making UFC Abu Dhabi a must-watch event.

Read Next: Clippers Sign Coach Tyronn Lue To 5-Year, $70 Million Deal

Source: MMA Fighting 

Comments

Post a Comment

Trending Now

Angela Carini Speaks Out On Imane Khelif Controversy With Instagram Post

Image
Photo: Angela Carini (Instagram) Olympic boxer Angela Carini has finally broken her silence after a controversial match against Imane Khelif during the round of 16 in the women's 66kg boxing category at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Carini withdrew from the match early, citing the power of Khelif's punches as something she had never experienced before. Her comments about Khelif's strength sparked a heated online debate, with some questioning whether Khelif should be allowed to compete in women's boxing.  This controversy grew because Khelif had previously been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships due to an unspecified eligibility test result. Despite the speculation, Khelif was allowed to compete in the Olympics, passing all required tests.  Photo: Angela Carini (Instagram) Five weeks after the match, Carini took to Instagram to share her thoughts. She posted a reflective message, stating, "Many times a person needs to close themselves in order to medit
Read More

Taylor Swift And Brittany Mahomes Sit Separately at Chiefs Game Amid Political Tensions

Image
Photo: Taylor Swift, Brittany Mahomes (Instagram) Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes were both at the Kansas City Chiefs game, but they didn’t sit together like they have in the past.  Swift was with Travis Kelce ’s mom, and Mahomes was in another suite with her daughter.  This happened as Mahomes faces backlash for showing support for Donald Trump on social media. Mahomes liked a post from Trump in August, which upset some people, including Swift’s fans. She later defended herself, saying people can have different opinions and still be kind.  Photo: Taylor Swift, Brittany Mahomes (Instagram) Trump even thanked Mahomes and her husband for supporting him. Swift, on the other hand, has been vocal in her support for Democrats in the past.  This has led to speculation about how the two women might handle their differences, especially since they used to be seen together at games. It’s unclear if their political views have affected their friendship, but they weren’t spotted together at this
Read More

LeBron James Sparks Controversy By Ranking Travis Kelce Above Chiefs Legend

Image
Photo: LeBron James, Travis Kelce (Instagram) NBA superstar LeBron James stirred up some debate recently when he gave his opinion on the best NFL tight ends of all time. Known for his bold takes, LeBron named Travis Kelce as one of his top picks, a decision that didn't sit well with many Kansas City Chiefs fans. In an interview, LeBron was asked to rank his "Tight End Mount Rushmore." He included Kelce, along with Kellen Winslow Sr. and Shannon Sharpe . Photo: LeBron James (Instagram) However, when it came time to make room for Rob Gronkowski, LeBron bumped Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez from the list, relegating him to an honorable mention. This move upset many fans who believe Gonzalez, a Hall of Famer with over 900 catches and 10,000 receiving yards for the Chiefs, deserves a spot. Most postseason touchdowns by QB-receiver duo in NFL history: - Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce (16) - Tom Brady & Rob Gronkowski (15) - Joe Montana & Jerry Rice (12) pic.twitter.c
Read More

How Fast Is Tyreek Hill? Miami Dolphins Star Challenges Olympic Champion

Image
Photo: Tyreek Hill (Instagram) Tyreek Hill , the Miami Dolphins wide receiver, is known for being the fastest player in the NFL . Nicknamed "Cheetah," Hill recently challenged Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles to a race. This bold challenge has fans wondering—just how fast is Tyreek Hill? In the 2023 NFL season, Hill reached a top speed of 23.24 miles per hour, making him the fastest player in the league. With such speed, Hill decided to take on Lyles, who ran the 100m in 9.79 seconds to win Olympic gold. Hill's personal best for the 100m is 10.19 seconds, though he once clocked 9.98 seconds with wind assistance. Despite being slower than Lyles, Hill is confident. Speaking on the show Up & Adams , Hill said, “I would beat Noah Lyles. Not by much, but I’d beat him. And when I do, I’ll wear a COVID mask to show I mean business.” Photo: Tyreek Hill (Instagram) This was a playful nod to Lyles, who revealed he had COVID during his 200m final . Lyles didn’t hold back in hi
Read More

SWAT Raids UFC Star Sean O'Malley's Home Due To Prank Call

Image
Photo: Sean O'Malley (Instagram) UFC star Sean O'Malley recently shared a frightening experience on his podcast, "Timbo Sugarshow." The bantamweight champion revealed that he was detained for over half an hour after a prank led to a SWAT team raiding his home. O'Malley, who is one of the most popular fighters in the UFC today, has a Twitch channel where he streams live video games. During one of his streams, a viewer discovered his address and made a fake call to the police. The caller falsely claimed that O'Malley had killed his parents, prompting a swift response from the SWAT team. "I was streaming for about an hour and a half when I saw a policeman on my sidewalk," O'Malley recalled. "Then more officers showed up, and they told me to put my hands up. Next thing I know, I'm sitting in the back of a police car with shotguns pointed at me." Photo: Sean O'Malley (Instagram) O'Malley quickly realized that he was the victim o
Read More

Bob Arum Names Three Fighters Who Can Beat Gervonta Davis

Image
Photo: Bob Arum, Gervonta Davis (Instagram) Gervonta Davis is known for his knockout power. Out of 30 fights, he’s stopped 28 opponents before the final bell. Only two fighters, German Meraz and Isaac Cruz , have gone the distance with him. Meraz did it in a four-round fight early in Davis' career, while Cruz managed to last the full fight despite Davis injuring his hand halfway through. Veteran boxing promoter, Bob Arum, believes there are three fighters who can beat Davis: Shakur Stevenson , Vasiliy Lomachenko , and Teofimo Lopez . In an interview, Arum praised Davis as an excellent fighter but said these three have what it takes to win against him.   Photo: Bob Arum (Instagram) Arum has promoted all three fighters in the past, though Stevenson recently signed with a different promoter. Stevenson seems likely to face Davis first, with plans to fight other top opponents before that happens. Lomachenko, who was in talks for a fight with Davis, has decided to take a break for the r
Read More

Travis Kelce's Team Denies Fake Breakup Document With Taylor Swift

Image
Photo: Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift (Instagram) Rumors are swirling about a possible breakup between NFL star Travis Kelce and pop icon Taylor Swift after a document with an exact split date started circulating online.  The document, said to be from Kelce’s PR firm, Full Scope PR, mentioned a breakup on September 28 and laid out a plan for handling media reactions. It was first shared on Reddit before spreading on social media. However, Full Scope PR has denied any involvement. They told The Daily Mail  the document is "completely fake" and not from their firm. They have even called in their lawyers to take action against whoever created the false document. Photo: Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift (Instagram) The document reportedly suggested key messages for the breakup, including "Respect and Privacy" and "Personal Growth." It also included an example of a public statement that Kelce and Swift would release, claiming the breakup was mutual and respectful. Travi
Read More

Teen Sprinter Breaks Usain Bolt's Record at U20 World Championships

Image
Photo: Usain Bolt (Instagram) A 16-year-old Australian sprinter named Gout Gout has broken one of Usain Bolt 's records. This happened at the U20 World Championships in Peru, where Gout finished the 200m race in 20.60 seconds, beating Bolt's 2002 time of 20.61 seconds when he was also 16 years old. Gout won a silver medal in the race, with South African Bayanda Walaza taking gold with a time of 20.54 seconds. Britain's Jake Odey-Jordan won bronze, clocking in at 20.81 seconds. Gout, born in Brisbane to South Sudanese parents, said he was relieved and excited after the race, which he had been preparing for over the last two weeks. Gout's achievement has led to comparisons with Usain Bolt, with many seeing similarities between the two sprinters. Athletics Australia president Jane Flemming even mentioned the resemblance. Gout thought the comparison was "pretty cool." Photo: Usain Bolt (Instagram) Earlier this year, another young sprinter, Nickecoy Bramwell from J
Read More

LeBron James Supports Son Bronny: 'Ignore The Haters'

Image
Photo: LeBron James (Instagram) LeBron James has sent a strong message of support to his son, Bronny James , who recently joined the Los Angeles Lakers. On Instagram, LeBron encouraged Bronny to block out all the "hate" and focus on his game as he prepares for his first season in the NBA. Bronny was picked in the second round of the NBA draft, 55th overall , by the Lakers. Many fans are talking about whether his famous father influenced this decision. Photo: LeBron James (Instagram) In his only season at USC, Bronny didn’t post impressive stats. He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. However, he had health issues, including cardiac arrest before the season, which slowed him down. Despite this, Bronny was still a highly rated player coming out of high school. “F*ck all the hate/noise! You know your personal legend! THEY DON’T KNOW YOU!” - LeBron’s message to Bronny 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/H1hCt8eNgU — LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) September 4, 2024 Now, a
Read More

Paddy Pimblett Eyes Charles Oliveira Fight For Title Shot

Image
Photo: Paddy Pimblett (Instagram) Paddy Pimblett , a rising UFC star from Liverpool, has set his sights on fighting former UFC champion Charles Oliveira .  Pimblett believes that beating Oliveira could lead to a shot at the lightweight title currently held by Islam Makhachev . After his big win at UFC 304, where he submitted King Green with a triangle choke, Pimblett earned the #15 spot in the lightweight rankings. Now, he’s eager to climb even higher. Photo: Paddy Pimblett (Instagram) He mentioned that if given the chance, he would fight Dan Hooker , another top contender, to move up the ranks quickly. Pimblett also said that he’s inspired by Sean O’Malley , who jumped up the rankings after defeating top fighters. Pimblett thinks that a similar path could work for him. Paddy Pimblett wants a similar route to the title as Sean O'Malley: "The perfect route to the title would have been [Renato] Moicano and then Charles Oliveira. He's like rank #2. That's what [Sean] O&#
Read More