Nate Diaz makes his return against Leon Edwards at UFC 263 in a contest many are considering to be an extremely tough test. Perhaps even harder of a match-up than Diaz needs to accept at this juncture.
The Stockton Native last competed against Jorge Masvial, a fight in which he came out flat and took a loss. That was at UFC 244, in New York, for the much-balleyhooed “BMF” title. Now, Diaz is making a comeback after an extended layoff, and many are commending Diaz for taking on such a dangerous fighter like Edwards for his return.
The very fact that Diaz is making his highly anticipated return against Edwards speaks volumes of Diaz’s respect for his competitor. The betting lines have Edwards as the heavy favorite to win, which is understandable. The last time we saw Diaz compete, he didn’t look like himself. The last time we saw Edwards, he was also returning from a long layoff. But despite that, he looked as sharp and as focused as ever.
Many are questioning why Diaz would decide to take such a tough match-up for his return bout when, with his name value, he really doesn’t have too. But what many don’t realize is that just because the general fanbase and the odds makers see things that way, it doesn’t mean Diaz himself does. Diaz has had success at defying the odds and surprising us all with an unlikely victory in the past; he’ll look to do it again at UFC 263.
For more on the Nate Diaz vs. Leon Edwards five-round showdown at UFC 263, check out the video above!
