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Legendary fan favorites Nick Diaz and Tony Ferguson are set to make their highly anticipated returns to the octagon. On Wednesday morning, UFC CEO Dana White announced the return fights for these two MMA veterans, scheduled for August 3 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Nick Diaz will face Vicente Luque in a five-round co-main event, while Tony Ferguson will take on Michael Chiesa on the main card. Both bouts will take place in the welterweight division, adding to the excitement for this star-studded event.
Diaz, the older brother of Nate Diaz, has not fought since his loss to Robbie Lawler in 2021, which marked his first fight in six years. At 40 years old, Diaz is winless in his past four UFC bouts, with his last victory dating back to 2011 against B.J. Penn at UFC 237. Diaz is looking to make a strong comeback and break his losing streak against Luque, who is also eager to return to the win column after a 1-3 record in his last four performances, including a recent TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in March.
Ferguson, also 40, is aiming to end his seven-fight losing streak when he meets Chiesa. While White did not confirm if this would be Ferguson's retirement fight, he mentioned that it “could be” Ferguson’s final appearance in the octagon. Ferguson’s last fight was in December when he lost a unanimous decision to Paddy Pimblett. This matchup against Chiesa could be a pivotal moment in Ferguson’s career as he seeks redemption and a possible farewell victory.
In addition to these thrilling matchups, a UFC women’s strawweight bout between Mackenzie Dern and Loopy Godinez was also announced, adding more excitement to the card.
With these high-stakes fights, UFC Abu Dhabi is shaping up to be an unforgettable event for fight fans worldwide. The return of Nick Diaz and Tony Ferguson promises to deliver action-packed bouts and memorable moments in Abu Dhabi.
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