With the UFC’s recent announcement of the Middleweight match-up between Nick Diaz and Anderson Silva getting huge amounts of attention, you can bet that the company is going to be looking to ride that wave of exposure after a downturn over the past year. Gina Carano is strongly linked to a return after a 5 year hiatus from MMA, and that return would lift the women’s divisions to yet unattained heights. Are there more ‘comebacks’ or ‘returns’ heading our way?
Diaz has signed a new 3 fight deal, and there is the ongoing question of who he will fight, as the eclectic Diaz does not get motivated for just anyone. But 2015 could be the time for the return of former welterweight champion Georges St Pierre, who has defeated Diaz in the past. The fact is, St Pierre may be slated to get the winner of the Silva-Diaz match, as St Pierre’s name was long linked to a super-fight against Silva when both were reigning champions.
With regards tot hat re-match, St Pierre, who is known for his scientific approach to preparation, stated he would need about a year to re-configure his diet and training to add weight properly. Well, lo and behold, he has had a year, so the very real possibility exists that St Pierre could return as a Middleweight.
Both Andrei Arlovski and Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson have returned to the UFC after leaving the company. Arlovski won, and Johnson has already established himself as a potential challenger in the Light Heavyweight division, so comebacks are paying dividends in the mid ranks as well.
Another athlete on the comeback trail is former Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz. Cruz is returning in September at UFC 178 against Takeya Mizugaki after multiple knee surgeries and injuries have kept him out nearly three years. His comeback is different and more like Carano’s, as both have title aspirations and are looking to return to the top.
With the UFC, there are always periodic rumors that iconic champion Chuck Liddel has returned to the gym with a potential comeback in mind, and they always turn out to be inaccurate. But let’s be honest, when he retired back in June of 2010 and UFC President Dana White put him on salary for life, the UFC probably didn’t sign up to send him $2000 every 3 months, he is probably being well paid to do nothing. And if Anderson Silva wins, who better for a yet bigger fight in 2015 than the former Lightheavyweight Champion, who will still only 6 or so years older than Silva.
