Cesar Gracie isn’t a fan of Nick Diaz’s UFC return struggle.
Diaz (26-10 MMA, 7-7 UFC) takes on Vicente Luque (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC) Aug. 3 at Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi. The 40-year-old hasn’t competed since a TKO loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in September 2021, which was his first struggle in additional than six years.
Diaz’s longtime coach, Gracie, revealed that he isn’t part of his coaching camp. He would have somewhat Diaz confronted somebody apart from Luque.
“I’m actually not concerned in that struggle,” Gracie advised Submission Radio. “I’m going to be completely trustworthy with you. That wasn’t my thought. It wasn’t a struggle I’d have had. Like if I used to be advising Nick, I wouldn’t have suggested him to try this struggle. It’s in Abu Dhabi. I wouldn’t advise to go struggle abroad at this level, particularly Luque is a really robust man. You recognize Nick is a tricky man, however it simply doesn’t make that a lot sense for me the place Nick is at in his profession.
“And I don’t know. It’s not the struggle I’d have made. I don’t even know what’s occurring with that struggle to be trustworthy with you. I communicate to Nick. I spoke to Nick immediately just a little bit, and yeah, I don’t have any plans for that struggle, to be trustworthy with you. I don’t know what’s going to occur with that one to be trustworthy with you.”
In response to DraftKings, Diaz is a +340 underdog vs. Luque, who’s a -440 favourite. Gracie is even skeptical that Diaz makes the struggle on Aug. 3.
“I haven’t been a part of his coaching for this one. I’m simply not,” Gracie mentioned. “We discuss daily, and I don’t know what’s going to occur with that, to be trustworthy with you. I don’t. It’s a tossup what’s going to occur. And like, once more, I believe the camp, our camp typically, we haven’t been as concerned like we’re with different stuff.
“And so I don’t know what Nick is doing. I do know he’s misplaced a variety of weight and all the things, however I don’t actually see him coaching with fighters. And I don’t know what’s occurring with that struggle.”
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