UFC president Dana White had high praise for one of the biggest names in the organisation – Nick Diaz.
On the main card of UFC 266, the legendary fighter Diaz made his return from a five-year hiatus.
Nick faced Robbie Lawler in a feature bout scheduled for five rounds.
Despite not knowing what to really expect from the 38-year-old scrapper from Stockton, White was impressed with the performance of the elder Diaz brother.
“I thought Nick Diaz looked incredible considering he hasn’t fought in five years,” White told media at the DWCS 41 post-fight news conference. “You never know what to get with the (Diaz) brothers, but let me tell you what, with a five-year layoff, I thought he looked unbelievable.”
“That first round, and I don’t know if you guys saw Robbie after the fight, but Robbie had freakin’ knots and lumps all over him. Those two went to war. The fight itself exceeded my expectations. …I thought Robbie was going to go out there and buzzsaw right through him and that was not the case.”
Although there were exciting moments, Diaz lost the fight via TKO in the third round, continuing his winless streak as he has failed to record a victory in his four previous walks to the cage.
“I don’t know,” White said when asked if Diaz will fight again in the UFC in the future. “I honestly don’t know the answer to that question, but he looked damn good. That kid has a massive heart and he’s obviously a super talented fighter, and I was impressed.”
