Legendary fan favorites [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] and [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] will be stepping into the octagon once again.
On Wednesday morning, UFC CEO Dana White announced the return fights for the two MMA veterans, which will happen Aug. 3 at UFC on ABC 7 from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Diaz will take on [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] in a five-round co-main event, and while Ferguson matches up with [autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] on the main card. Both fights will take place at welterweight.
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Diaz, older brother of Nate Diaz, hasn’t fought since losing to Robbie Lawler in 2021. That was also his first fight in six years. Diaz is now 40 and winless in his past four UFC bouts. His last win came against B.J. Penn in 2011 at UFC 237.
Luque is also looking to break out of a bad spell. He’s 1-3 in his past four performances, with his most recent a TKO loss to Joaquin Buckley in March.
Ferguson, like Diaz also 40, is hoping to snap a seven-fight losing streak when he meets Chiesa. White didn’t say this would be Ferguson’s retirement fight but did state this “could be” Ferguson’s final fight. Ferguson last fought in December when he lost a unanimous decision to Paddy Pimblett.
Additionally, a UFC women’s strawweight bout between [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag] and [autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag] was also announced.
Below is the updated card for UFC on ABC 7:
- Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
- Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque
- Michael Chiesa vs. Tony Ferguson
- Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Marlon Vera
- Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez
- Alonzo Menifield vs. Azamat Murzakanov
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.