UFC President Dana White has come to the defense of his decision to book veteran Nick Diaz for an upcoming bout against Vicente Luque at UFC Abu Dhabi. The booking has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike, with some questioning if Diaz should be stepping into the octagon ever again.
White, however, is unapologetic about the matchup, insisting that Diaz was proactive in seeking out the fight. “He came to us and said that he wanted to fight,” White recounted in a recent interview. “He was texting me and wanted to meet. We were down with St. Louis, and he was going to be there. Wanted to meet Hunter, got together with them, and they ended up getting a deal done.”
The UFC President’s comments come on the heels of reports suggesting that Kevin Holland was initially slated to face Diaz, but opted out of the bout due to the timing. White corroborated this account, stating, “Kevin said he was the original opponent, but he didn’t want to wait until August.” When pressed for further clarification, White demurred, saying, “I don’t know if that is true, but it probably is. If Kevin said it, then it’s true. I’ve never heard Kevin make any…untruths.”
The booking of Diaz against Luque has sparked debate among MMA enthusiasts, with some arguing that the 39-year-old veteran is being fed to the wolves against a younger, hungrier opponent. White, however, remains adamant that Diaz is up for the challenge. “He wanted to fight, and we gave him the fight,” the UFC President emphasized.
While the MMA community continues to weigh in on the merits of the matchup, White’s defense of the booking serves as a reminder that, at the end of the day, the UFC is a business. With Diaz reportedly commanding a significant payday for the bout – it’s clear that the organization is banking on the veteran’s name recognition to draw in viewers.
As the countdown to UFC Abu Dhabi continues, one thing is certain: the eyes of the MMA world will be on Diaz as he steps into the Octagon once again. Considering his last showing it’s surprising UFC has opted to book him at all let alone against a younger opponent.
