Stockton brawler Nate Diaz will return to action on Dec. 19 when he faces number five-ranked lightweight Michael “The Menace” Johnson at UFC on Fox 17 in Orlando, Fla. The UFC announced the news on Monday.
Diaz (17-10) last fought in Dec. 2014 and he missed weight for the bout losing a unanimous decision to Rafael dos Anjos at a 160.6-pound catchweight. Prior to that Diaz had scored a first round TKO win over Gray Maynard, but it remains his only win in his last four fights.
Johnson (16-9) is coming off a controversial split decision loss to Beneil Dariush in Nashville earlier this month, but was riding a four-fight winning streak going into the bout. If Johnson can rack up an impressive finish of the smack talking Diaz brother he could put himself right back in the title picture.
A lightweight championship bout between Rafael dos Anjos and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone headlines the card.
Here’s the UFC on Fox 17 line-up as it currently stands:
- Lightweight: Rafael dos Anjos (c) vs. Donald Cerrone
- Lightweight: Michael Johnson vs. Nate Diaz
- Middleweight: C.B. Dollaway vs. Nate Marquardt
- Middleweight: Josh Samman vs. Tamdan McCrory
Check UFC.com for ticket info.