While Dana White doesn’t seem to be sold on Nick Diaz wanting to return to the octagon, Tyson Fury feels otherwise.
On Friday, Fury was featured in a series of videos on his Instagram stories where he and Diaz had themselves an old fashioned training session.
Diaz hasn’t competed since he faced Anderson Silva in the main event of UFC 183 in January 2015 where the former middleweight champion earned a decision victory before the fight was overturned to a no contest after both fighters failed drug tests. Diaz was suspended for five-years for marijuana use—which was ultimately reduced to 18 months—but has yet to return to competition.
While Diaz’s manager believed his client would return in 2021, along with Diaz attending April’s UFC 261 event, the UFC president recently told ESPN that he doesn’t feel the 37-year-old truly has the desire to get back to his fighting career.
Following the training session, Fury sent a message to White on Diaz’s behalf.
“He’s in tremendous shape,” Fury said of Diaz on his Instagram stories. “He’s ready. Make the fight, Dana. Make the fight.”
Fury reportedly has a date with Anthony Joshua for the undisputed heavyweight title on Aug. 14, although the fight has yet to be officially announced.