Report: Nick Diaz Returning After 4-Year Layoff to Face Jorge Masvidal at UFC 235

Breaking: The UFC is close to finalizing Nick Diaz's return to the Octagon, per Dana White. The fight is Jorge Masvidal at UFC 235 on March 2 in Las Vegas. Diaz's first appearance in more than four years. Story coming soon to @ESPN.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 15, 2018

For the first time since January 2015, Nick Diaz will be gracing the Octagon with his presence as he faces off against fellow Strikeforce alum Jorge Masvidal.

This fight is reported to take place at UFC 235 on March 2 in Las Vegas, according to Brett Okamoto of ESPN.

Returning from the longest layoff of his career, Diaz (26-9, 2 NC) last dropped a decision to Anderson Silva at UFC 183 in 2015, but the result was overturned to a no contest when both fighters tested positive for banned substances. Prior to that bout, Diaz lost back-to-back decisions in Ultimate Fighting Championship title fights to Georges St. Pierre and Carlos Condit in 2013 and 2012, respectively. One of only five fighters to compete inside the Strikeforce promotion at least five times and never lose, Diaz won and defended his welterweight belt three times before vacating it to join the UFC.

Across from him will be Masvidal (32-13), who most recently lost a decision to Stephen Thompson in November 2017. “Gamebred” serves as one of a small group of fighters to ever appear in the UFC, Bellator MMA and Strikeforce over the years, but the pair never managed to face off.

Taking place at the T-Mobile Arena on March 2, UFC 235 in Las Vegas does not yet have any other bouts scheduled, although two-division champion Daniel Cormier eyes this event for his retirement fight.