There were glimpses of the old Nick Diaz at UFC 266, and many clear looks of the current Nick Diaz as he returned after a six-year layoff to rematch Robbie Lawler.
Seventeen years after the grizzled MMA vets faced off in the octagon at UFC 47, Lawler came out ahead with a third-round TKO that was called when Diaz sunk to the canvas
and didn’t answer referee Jason Herzog’s prompt to rise. The official time of stoppage was 0:44 for Lawler, who helped up his two-time foe and shared a moment of appreciation after overwhelming him with a right hook and uppercut.
Here’s what fighters had to say about Robbie Lawler vs. Nick Diaz 2 at UFC 266.
Fuck it. Nick Diaz vs Cowboy. Let the people have this.
— Tanner Boser (@BulldozerBoser) September 26, 2021
1-1
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 26, 2021
Legends
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) September 26, 2021
Current mood: sad, but still high. #209 #Tears #UFC266
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) September 26, 2021
This should’ve been a 3 rounder ! #UFC266
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 26, 2021
Damn did Diaz just “no mas”
— Funky (@Benaskren) September 26, 2021
What an epic fight!
— Funky (@Benaskren) September 26, 2021
Respect to both legends #UFC266
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) September 26, 2021
Chael P did it AGAIN..
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) September 26, 2021
A crazy 2 rounds and somewhat of an anticlimactic ending, but the rematch lived up to hype while it lasted!!#UFC266
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) September 26, 2021
Robby is the wrong guy to fight after 5 years off
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 26, 2021
Diaz looked great for about 8 minutes but he is usually reliant on his cardio and it wasn’t there!
— Funky (@Benaskren) September 26, 2021
Damn that wasn't the ending anyone wanted #UFC266
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) September 26, 2021
I hope that Lawler retires on that! What a great career for him.
— Funky (@Benaskren) September 26, 2021
Tbh looked like Nicks knee went out, he fought from orthodox for longer than I’ve ever seen him this fight, I suspect his knee was hurt going into this fight and that is why he asked for 185 because he couldn’t cut. Lawler vs Diaz 3
— Louis Smolka (@LASTSAMURAIUFC) September 26, 2021