Nick Diaz is ready to turn his life around.
Diaz has faced an ongoing battle with sobriety, which resulted in him involuntarily spending the last year in a rehabilitation center in Mexico. The 42-year-old hasn’t competed since a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler in September 2021, his first fight in almost seven years.
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Not only does Diaz (26-10 MMA, 7-7 UFC) see himself bouncing back, but he’s aiming for the top.
“I see myself becoming world champion,” Diaz said in an interview at the Baja Rehab center. “I see myself becoming world champion, and I think it’s easy money. It’s not like before. People are going to see a brand new me.”
Diaz is confident that his days of substance abuse are behind him.
“For me, I just think that I wouldn’t have made it this far if I thought that there was something that could stop me,” Diaz said. “That being the next guy I’m standing in front of or any obstacle. Substance abuse, right or wrong, I’m just very confident that I’m going to do better every year, every day.”
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Diaz was scheduled to return against Vicente Luque in August 2024 at UFC on ABC 7, but the bout was scrapped after Diaz pulled out due to travel issues. The pair were rebooked for UFC 310, as well, but Diaz withdrew once again for undisclosed reasons.
He’s ready to start a new chapter.
“I just want to thank my fans, supporters, and everybody that is going to be ready to tune in for my next upcoming fights,” Diaz said. “We’re going to win a world title.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Nick Diaz: ‘People are going to see a brand new me’
