Lombard claims Nick Diaz is ‘running’ from him
source | MMAFighting.com
Earlier this month UFC officials attempted to set-up a bout between Lombard and Stockton’s favorite son, Nick Diaz. The match-up, however, never came to fruition, as Diaz balked at the idea of exiting retirement for anything less than a title fight without renegotiating his UFC contract.
Lombard is now the only healthy fighter ranked within welterweight’s top-8 to not have a fight booked.
On Wednesday edition of UFC Tonight, the former Bellator champ reiterated to Ariel Helwani that he’d still like to challenge Diaz, even adding that Diaz was “running” from him.
Should Diaz elect to remain retired, Lombard is still hoping to return on July 5, 2014 at UFC 175, preferably in a bout against Patrick Cote, who bested Kyle Noke via unanimous decision in mid-April’s TUF Nations Finale.