UFC welterweight Vicente Luque has expressed concern for MMA legend Nick Diaz following the cancellation of their scheduled bout at UFC 310 and the emergence of a concerning viral video.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed Diaz appearing to attempt to ignite grass in the middle of the night, leading to widespread concern among fans and fellow fighters about his wellbeing.
“I don’t know exactly why [it was cancelled],” Luque told MMAFighting.
“He didn’t look okay. And more than anything, I hope his family and he’s taking care of himself. I hope he recovers and goes back to his best state possible.”
Luque, who has long admired Diaz’s career, expressed particular dismay at seeing his would-be opponent in such a state. “He has inspired me a lot in the past. What he’s done, fighting legends like B.J. Penn, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Carlos Condit, many big names. You see his accomplishments, and see his state at 40 years of age, that’s not how I want to see any fighter,” Luque added.
The Brazilian competitor emphasized the demanding nature of their profession and his hopes for Diaz’s future: “This sport is very tough and we dedicate so many years to be able to make a living off this, and to see him in that situation, at his age… We don’t know what he’s going to do from now on, if he’s going to recover, if he’s going to be able to compete again, maybe open a gym and teach, whatever, but we hope for the best. It’s very sad to see him at that stage. Because I don’t want that for anyone, much less a man that has inspired so many.”
Following the cancellation, Luque (22-10-1) will now face Themba Gorimbo (14-4) at UFC 310.
Meanwhile MMA mega fan account Borracinha Depot warned there were rumblings about Diaz’ getting hooked on m*th from a clip on Tim Welch podcast.
In a revealing interview, former UFC star Joe Riggs made concerning allegations about Nick Diaz’s current state ahead of his scheduled return against Vicente Luque. Riggs claimed he had insider knowledge suggesting Diaz was struggling with s*bstance abuse issues, expressing doubt about whether Diaz should be competing.
“I know some personal things about Nick right now, I don’t know how this is possible,” Riggs stated during an appearance on Tim Welch’s podcast. While Riggs was hesitant to share specifics, he indicated Diaz has been battling serious a*diction problems.
The timing of these claims is particularly troubling as Diaz is slated to face Vicente Luque in a five-round co-main event at UFC’s August 3rd card in Abu Dhabi.
Riggs suggested that Diaz’s current circumstances make him ill-equipped to face an elite opponent like Luque, who despite recent setbacks remains one of the welterweight division’s most dangerous strikers. The matchup has already drawn criticism from some in the MMA community who feel it’s a mismatch given Diaz’s lengthy layoff and apparent personal struggles.
The allegations are especially concerning considering Diaz hasn’t secured a victory since his 2011 win over BJ Penn – a span of 13 years. Riggs also revealed that Diaz is completely broke which explains why he’s selling counterfeit UFC gloves on his social media daily.
This developing story adds another layer of controversy to what was already being viewed as a questionable booking by many MMA observers.
