Former UFC welterweight title challenger, Jake Shields has backed teammate, Nick Diaz forward of the latter’s anticipated Octagon return subsequent yr, claiming the Californian is no less than in higher form than he was in his UFC 266 rematch loss to Robbie Lawler in September of final yr.
Shields, an alum of the UFC, challenged for undisputed welterweight gold towards common-foe, Georges St-Pierre again in 2011, struggling a unanimous resolution. A famend grappler, Shields managed to clinch gold below the banners of Strikerforce, Elite XC, Shooto, and Rumbler on the Rock throughout his storied skilled profession.
Making his first Octagon stroll in over six years again in September of final yr on the principle card of UFC 266, Stockton fan-favorite, Nick Diaz met with two-time foe and former undisputed champion, Robbie Lawler on the middleweight restrict.
Matching with the previous champion in a rematch of their 2004 matchup with Nick Diaz touchdown a knockout win, Lawler managed to cease Diaz with third spherical strikes, scoring a TKO win via retirement in their scheduled five round matchup.
Within the time since, Diaz, a former welterweight title challenger within the UFC and prior Strikeforce and WEC champion, has harassed his intentions to return to lively competitors subsequent yr – eyeing a potential fight with former middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya.
Jake Shields touts Nick Diaz’s situation forward of potential 2023 return to the UFC
Explaining his shock with how a combat with Lawler truly got here to fruition final yr, Diaz revealed a rift in his camp and administration workforce post-fight, nevertheless, Shields has now claimed the veteran is no less than wanting higher bodily forward of a possible 2023 comeback.
“Nick (Diaz) seems much better than he did when he fought Robbie (Lawler),” Jake Shields tweeted.
With no victory since a powerful unanimous resolution win over former welterweight and light-weight champion, B.J. Penn again in 2011, Diaz, in response to his head coach, Cesar Gracie, competed towards Lawler in September of final yr, regardless of struggling two ruptured discs in his neck
