Did the UFC drop the ball on this one?
After breakthrough years in 2016 & 2016, the Diaz brothers have become huge stars. Facing Anderson Silva in his last fight at UFC 183, Nick went up against the Nevada Athletic Commission next.
Having allegedly failed a drug test on the same night as passing one, Diaz’s suspension of five years was disgraceful. Especially now, as the NSAC considers removing marijuana from the banned substances list.
Diaz-Rogan
Shining in a duo of thrilling fights with Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz finally got the big paydays he’d been working towards. Heading in to 2017, fans waited and hoped for either Diaz brother to return.
Nick’s suspension had been reduced and expired late last year, but neither man is in any hurry to comeback. With UFC 209 coming up on March 4th, and the Stockton brothers coming from Stockton, Joe Rogan feels the promotion has dropped the ball:
UFC 209 Without The Diaz Brothers?
Speaking via MMAMania.com, Rogan feels the UFC missed out on an obvious and one-off opportunity.
“They had one opportunity ever in the history of the UFC to do it,” Rogan said. “Like, I planned episode 911 [of the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast] to be Alex Jones. They should have planned episode 209 to be in Stockton with Nick and Nate Diaz. I guarantee to you, that s**t would have gotten two million pay per view buys.”
This photo pretty much sums it up:
Thoughts
Recently stating he wouldn’t fight for less than $20 million, did Nate Diaz price himself out of a comeback? Nick has turned down a rematch with Robbie Lawler in recent times too. That said, the UFC has made so many exceptions for McGregor, surely they could dig deep for the Diaz bros.?
Maybe the new owners are a little gun shy given the fact they had to borrow $4 billion recenlty.
