Although Nick Diaz used to have a championship match in Middleweight with Anderson Silva, UFC President Dana White still recommends that former King Strikeforce returned to play in Welterweight. This is not because of Diaz's physical condition, but because according to White, the Middleweight UFC fire pan is too hot for the Diaz's brother to jump in.
“I hope Nick Diaz Thuong Dai is in 170 pound (Welterweight),” Dana White said.
“I understand Nick Diaz wants to recreate a classic match like with Anderson Silva, but he will not want to face the top of the 185 Pound Middleweight.
Dana White himself also stated earlier this year that he believed that the Middleweight is currently the most competitive weight in the UFC tournament. “From the 10th place Kevin Holland to the Israeli Adesanya champion, the top 10 are great boxers,” he said.
Former Strikeforce and WEC Nick Diaz have not played since 2015. After the defeat to Anderson Silva at UFC 183, Nick Diaz was suspended for 5 years (although he was later reduced to 18 months) because this was the second time he was discovered using marijuana before competition.
Despite the erratic time, Nick Diaz is still quite famous in UFC's long-term fans' minds thanks to the matches that can be said to be classic with Anderson Silva, BJ Penn, Carlos Condit, Georges St-Pierre, …
According to information from Nick Diaz's own management, Kevin Mubenga, Nick Diaz has contacted back to UFC from the end of 2020. Dana White has also confirmed Nick Diaz will return this year:
“Nick wants to play. And of course I will give him the opportunity to return. To see how everything happens.”