Following a yearlong spell on the sidelines in semi-retirement, Nick Diaz has managed to regain MMA relevancy in a matter of days.
A fair portion of the MMA fanbase was salivating over the unexpected announcement that Nick Diaz and former middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva would headline the UFC's Super Bowl show on January 31st, 2015.
While the bout is six months away and cannot even be marked on a calendar, it is one that has quickly captured fans' imaginations and is the closest thing to a super fight that the UFC has offered up in several years - with Georges St Pierre vs. BJ Penn being the latest in that category.
After signing his contract extension last week, Diaz appeared in a short clip that featured a standard assortment of noteworthy quotes from the former title challenger. Clearly intent on emphasizing his productive year away from the cage, Diaz suggested, "Just because I'm not getting punched around everyday doesn't mean I'm not focused on what I'm doing."
The clash with Silva is one that interests Diaz because of his fighting style. Tired of always competing against proficient wrestlers who try and hold him down, Diaz is looking forward to a contest against an opponent who will move forward to kick and punch.
"Stylistically, I think any kickboxers that aren't wrestlers are a really good match-up for me most of the time."
UFC 183 is scheduled to take place on January 31, 2015.