MMA

Report: Nate Diaz Returns At UFC 230 To Face Dustin Poirier

Sean Ross SappAugust 3, 2018, 5:00 am

Nate Diaz is returning to the Octagon.

After over two years away from the cage, and even longer away from the UFC’s 155-pound lightweight division, Diaz returns to a crowded lightweight division to take on one of its top dogs in #3 Dustin Poirier at UFC 230 in Madison Square Garden, according to Lance Pugmire of the LA Times.

Poirier (24-5, 1 NC) is fresh off of a TKO win over former UFC Champion Eddie Alvarez at UFC Calgary, while Diaz (20-11) has retained his #10 spot in the rankings despite an extended absence following a couple fights with Conor McGregor in 2016.

Pugmire suggested that the bout will serve as the co-main event, and that the main event for the

Diaz-Poirier will be fought at lightweight, 155, and serve as co-main event on MSG card that will include @LukeRockhold @chrisweidman

— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) August 3, 2018

Fightful sources have confirmed the news, and that UFC plans to have “all hands on deck” to close out a 2018 year that has seen some of its worst pay-per-view and television numbers ever.

Diaz has competed for the UFC Lightweight title, but came up short in his attempt to defeat then-champion Benson Henderson. Diaz joins a lightweight division that features Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson with claims to the championship, as Dustin Poirier, Kevin Lee and others emerge.

Fightful.com will have full, live coverage of UFC 230 from Madison Square Garden in New York City.