In the UFC, there aren’t a ton of fighters that really move the needle.
It’s obvious that Conor McGregor is one of the biggest stars the UFC has ever seen.
However, aside from “The Notorious” who comes to mind that can bring in big numbers for the UFC? Jon Jones is set to return in July and Georges St-Pierre’s return is also on the horizon. What about former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and the Diaz brothers?
According to White, he believes that both Rousey and Nick Diaz are done with fighting.
“I highly doubt it,” White said to MMAjunkie when asked if he thinks we will see Nick return to competition any time soon. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t think that, and I can’t speak for him, you’d have to speak with Nick himself, but if you ask me – people ask me, ‘Do you think Ronda (Rousey) is coming back?’ No. I think Ronda’s going to retire. Ronda hasn’t retired, but my opinion is, I think she will. I don’t think Nick Diaz will ever fight again. I just don’t think he has the desire anymore.”
White said that he believes age and the desire to train and fight is definitely playing a factor in Nick’s decision to compete.
“The things that you have to do to get to the UFC, let alone break into the top 10 or the top 5 or be a world champion, you have to love it. I just don’t think that Nick loves it anymore.”
Interestingly, the elder Diaz brother has said that ever since the day he started fighting professionally, it was no longer fun for him.
However, White believes there is still a chance that the younger Diaz brother will step into the Octagon in the future.
“Nate, I think that Nate probably will (fight) if something popped up,” White said. “But that’s just my opinion. If you ask the Diaz brothers they might have a different opinion.”
Do you think we will ever see the Diaz brothers or Ronda Rousey fight again? Let’s get your opinion in the comment section.
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 6/29/2017.