Rogan: Nick Diaz turned down Lawler rematch

On a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, the UFC color commentator discussed what’s next for the great Nick Diaz. Diaz received a wacky suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission, after nNOT failing a test for the demon week marijuana. The suspension ended in August, but Diaz had not paid the full fine. The fighter has come to terms with the NAC, but does not want to come back for anything less than a huge fight.

Really huge, apparently.

Apparently they offered Nick Diaz Robbie Lawler and Nick passed on it, said Rogan, as transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting. That’s the word. That’s the word behind the scenes. I wanted to see that fight. I would love to see that rematch. But I think Nick wants a f***ing title fight. I think Nick is like, look I want a big, big name or a title fight.

When you look at the title picture… what guys sell pay-per-views? I think Woodley is a bigger star now that he beat Wonderboy but he still … Dana and I were having this conversation and he’s like, ‘you can’t have Nick Diaz. Nick Diaz hasn’t won a fight since 2011. You can’t have him step in and just go right up to the title and fight.’

I said, ‘but I want to see it,’ and he goes ‘I want to see it too but you can’t do that.’

I think they missed the boat if they want to make the f***ing biiiiig money. I think it’s Nick Diaz versus Conor McGregor. They fight at 170 … It’s a great story. I love a great story. Big brother steps in. Come on, son.

While Rogan’s suggestions are unexpected, the UFC needs to realize a return on a $4,000,000,000 investment in a business with $600,000,000 in revenue. If the UFC had no expenses, that would be a great return, although on a percentage basis nothing like their profit margin in 2015. In the absence of cutting all expenses, the UFC is going to be thinking outside of the box, making Rogan’s suggestion not just plausible, but very, very possible.

Who wouldn’t want to see Nick Diaz vs. Conor McGregor?