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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Nick Diaz is currently serving a suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission after testing positive for marijuana metabolites in February, and though he's fighting the suspension in court, he's still likely to be out of action until February of 2013 anyway. When he returns, he's got a number of potential options, and his manager Cesar Gracie discussed those in an interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani.
"[The UFC] asked me, [Josh] Koscheck or Demian Maia," Gracie said. "I said probably Koscheck, more people have heard of him at 170. They're both really tough guys though. But ultimately, we want the bigger fights. I could see, maybe, Nick and [Johny] Hendricks would be interesting. That's what I'm thinking if they don't give him GSP, maybe a fight like that."
Of course, Diaz is still aiming for a fight with Georges St-Pierre, especially after the way last year played out, and how close his fight with Carlos Condit was in February. But he and his camp are also interested in Anderson Silva as well, and Gracie said they've received some mutual feelings on that front from Silva's camp.
"We're pushing for the GSP fight," Gracie said. "That's what we're going to push for, GSP or Anderson Silva. That's the two fights that interest us the most, and that's the one's we're going for."
"[Silva's] people are into it. We're into it. The fans, I think, would be into it. We've got convince Dana [White] about it now. Obviously the fight that makes sense to them, and I don't disagree, is Anderson-GSP, and like I said, I would watch that fight. That would be great to watch. But let's get real. If GSP just absolutely says no, then what? You can't make a guy fight. That's the thing. And Anderson, if they want to promote a superfight and if the stars align, I think Nick would be into it."
Penick's Analysis: All of the options presented here are entertaining, and they're going to be viable depending on what the UFC wants to do. They can put him in a rematch with Condit, they can have him fight Koscheck, they can have him fight Hendricks, or they can have him fight GSP if the Silva fight doesn't come together for the Welterweight Champ. Either way, Nick Diaz fights are almost always exciting, so regardless of who he's matched up against it will make for a good fight for the UFC. As to the Anderson Silva idea, that's the furthest thing from a realistic option right now, but a year or two down the line, if Silva is still in the sport, that is one of those fights that could come together.
[Nick Diaz art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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