Nick Diaz returned from a six year hiatus last night at UFC 266. His welcome back ceremony included a fight with ‘Ruthless’ Robbie Lawler, a former UFC welterweight champion and someone Diaz defeated way back in 2004.
Though Diaz was game for the first two rounds, the time away looked as though it was catching up with him. And then, in the third, Lawler ended the contest by TKO.
Diaz, who throughout fight week gave conflicting statements on his desire to be there, said he knew this defeat was coming.
Here’s exactly he said to Daniel Cormier immediately after the fight (ht bjpenn).