It seems like Nick Diaz hasn’t given up on getting back inside the Octagon yet! The original ‘Stockton Slapper’ made waves in the MMA sphere when it was announced that he would be taking on Vicente Luque at UFC on ABC 7 in Abu Dhabi. The bout drew a lot of attention as Diaz would be fighting after a 3-year gap since his UFC 266 bout against Robbie Lawler in 2021.

So why did the fight never materialize? It was announced just weeks out from the event that the Luque vs Diaz bout had been scrapped due to travel issues being faced by Diaz. In a conversation with MMA Junkie, after the fight fell through, Luque had shared, “We’re working on rescheduling the fight and I’m going to stay ready. If we can do it soon or maybe September, maybe August. … No word yet.”

Now it appears that Nick Diaz hasn’t given up on the bout yet as he made an interesting post on social media. The Stockton native shared that, “Don’t for a second think I forgot about all you little fighters who had a lot of sh*t to say about me… I’m going to hunt all you pu**ies down one at a time after I’m done with this guy.”

But is the bout really going to happen any time soon? According to UFC boss Dana White at the UFC 304 post-fight press conference, “I have no idea. Not very (confident he fights this year).” As such, the post has led to a flurry of reactions from the MMA fandom who showed their support for Diaz as a legend but aren’t too keen on him returning to action. Here’s a look at what the community had to say.

Nick Diaz’s quest to go on a “hunt” in the UFC doesn’t sit well with the fans  

His performance against Robbie Lawler in  2021 at UFC 266 was referenced by one fan as the reason why they aren’t sure about his return to the Octagon. Diaz, known for his legendary chin in the past, got knocked down in round 3 but verbally submitted and the fight was called off. So, what about a boxing match instead? That’s what the fans believe should be his focus next as his brother Nate Diaz has been doing in recent years.

“The thing is his last fight was shameful to the UFC we wanna see the best vs the best his isn’t a carnival he gave up and Robbie took it easy let’s call a spade a spade here just retire and do a boxing match and coach or something his time has passed”

The original ‘Stockton Slapper’ is definitely one of the most iconic fighters from his generation, but the long hiatus and him being 41 isn’t helping his case with the fans at all.

“one of my favorite fighters of all time… but come on man”

Others brought up the fact that Diaz’s last win inside the Octagon came in 2011 against B.J. Penn at UFC 137. Winning the bout by unanimous decision, the action-packed affair even won ‘Fight of the Night’ honors but since then, Diaz has yet to win a fight in the UFC.

“It’s not 2011 anymore Nick”

Nevertheless, fans also pointed out that Diaz shouldn’t be judged by his recent performances. After all, submitting Takanori Gomi at PRIDE 33 with a rare gogoplata (shin choke) submission is one of the most iconic moments in MMA history.  

“People forget about how dope this man was in his prime”

The fact that Diaz lost to Robbie Lawler who was winding up his career and would only fight twice before retiring in 2023 was also referenced by one fan. ‘Ruthless’ knocked out Niko Price at UFC 290 in 2023 in just 38 seconds in the first round, so maybe Diaz might be hoping for a fairytale ending to his UFC run as well?

“He got whooped by an old Robbie lawler I don’t think he can compete w any active fighter”

Once a terrifying force in promotions like Strikeforce, WEC, and the UFC with his relentless cardio and rock-solid chin, fans claimed that this ‘version’ of Nick Diaz doesn’t have that same aura of invincibility or resilience he once had.  

“No one is scared of this Nick Diaz”

In conclusion, Diaz’s fiery social media post suggests he’s far from done, promising to “hunt down” those who doubted him. But can he truly deliver on that promise? Dana White’s lack of confidence in Diaz’s fighting this year casts a shadow over his comeback aspirations. Fans, too, seem to urge him to consider a different path, perhaps following his brother Nate into the boxing ring.

Ultimately, while Diaz’s legacy remains intact, the question lingers: Is this the same Nick Diaz who once terrorized opponents with his trash talk and relentless pressure? Or is it time for him to move past the UFC? Let us know what you think in the comments below!