![Nick Diaz (left), Israel Adesanya (right) [Image courtesy of @nickdiaz209 on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/12/e128a-16714580407446-1920.jpg)
![Nick Diaz (left), Israel Adesanya (right) [Image courtesy of @nickdiaz209 on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABgAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAcQAAICAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQABQYREyEUAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEBhEAAgEEAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIRAAMFIUFCUv/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8Aw3Y2eOb2vxCFqVhV2dD9UrPJ6mN4AFQIHJHQLE/e8gr6+gK8QgpQLF5r5qxYkL18BPeMYPEiUYS0S3J9EVQZl2e5bdtkomyAeoNf/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
ESPN analyst Laura Sanko has admitted she doesn't want to see Nick Diaz return against Israel Adesanya. Sanko claims she would rather see Diaz fight another veteran of the sport.
Nick Diaz, Nate's older brother, is an MMA legend, previously holding Strikeforce, IFC and WEC welterweight titles. Diaz has also challenged for UFC gold, losing out to Georges St-Pierre in a welterweight title bout back in 2013.
Following an outing against Anderson Silva in 2015, the 39-year-old took a six-year hiatus from the sport before making his return against Robbie Lawler last year.
Fans were excited to see the Stockton fighter make another walk to the octagon. But they were left disappointed by the lackluster performance from Diaz, who retired in the third round against 'Ruthless'.
In an interview with Submission Radio, Laura Sanko addressed the rumors of Israel Adesanya vs. Nick Diaz, stating that it isn't a fight she wants to see:
"For guys like Nick, I like legacy type fights. I like old school vs. old school type fights. I would not want to see him fight Izzy... When we saw him comeback last time, that would be the way I'd want to finish it. I don't mean to be retiring the guy because he's such a legend, but if I'm being honest, I want Nick to go on and have a great life and enjoy himself beyond MMA and beyond fighting."
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Nick Diaz vows to return to the "top" in 2023, wants fight against Israel Adesanya
Nick Diaz is no stranger to making bold calls, and he has done so again in regards to his UFC future. According to Diaz, 2023 is going to be his year; the 39-year-old sees himself once again at the top of the UFC pyramid.
The veteran fighter recently hosted a meet and greet in Las Vegas with fans ahead of UFC 282 earlier this month. Diaz was asked about his future, after which he expressed his interest in facing former middleweight champ Israel Adesanya:
“You can see me back on top in 2023, I’m making a comeback. I’m going to be quicker than ever, stronger than ever, better than ever. I’m just gonna be a whole new me. Whoever is on top at the time, preferably Israel Adesanya, if he gets his title back.”
