Nate Diaz vs Leon Edwards has a date as UFC 262 features a first-of-its-kind fight

UFC 262 will feature the first five-round non-title co-main event when Nate Diaz takes on Leon Edwards. The fight has been confirmed by multiple sources after ESPN released the initial news.

This is Diaz’s highly-anticipated return to action as he has been out of action since his UFC 244 ‘BMF’ title bout against Jorge Masvidal.

He lost that fight by doctor stoppage but would now be hoping to get a win under his belt.

Nathan Diaz vs. Leon Edwards is set for UFC 262 on May 15 in Houston, per sources.

And, in a twist, the fight will be the first five-round non-title co-main event in UFC history.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 31, 2021

‘The Stockton Slugger’ recently made it clear that he would be fighting at 170 but did not rule a chance to fight at 155 as well. This fight with Rocky, however, is a welterweight bout.

Diaz himself confirmed the date of his fight on his Twitter account. UFC 262 takes place on May 15th, 2021, in Houston.

Nate Diaz vs Leon Edwards plays second fiddle to lightweight title fight

Usually, the only non-title fights that are 5-rounds long are main-events. This, however, is the first time that a non-title co-main event bout has been scheduled for 25 minutes.

Check me out may 15th I’ll be headlining #ufc262 in Houston Texas I’ll also have the new UFC lightweight title fight on the card I need people to know these guys are they’ve been working very hard and I can’t wait to see who gets my old 👑 I’ll see uguys there 👊🏼

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 31, 2021

The main event for the PPV is, of course, the highly-anticipated lightweight title bout between newcomer Michael Chandler and submission-specialist Charles Oliveira.

Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement from the sport earlier this month and Dana White has since scheduled a title bout between Chandler and ‘Du Bronx’ for the vacant belt.

‘The Eagle’ held the title ever since UFC 223 in April 2018 and the lightweight division has not seen a new champion since then.

It now seems like the winner of the Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 3 fight, rumoured to be in July, will go on to face the winner of Chandler vs Oliveira.

As for Diaz, this serves a genuine chance for him to climb up the ranks in the welterweight again and for Edwards, it is a chance to return with a win after his no-contest bout against Belal Muhammad.

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