Is this Nate Diaz’ worst matchup?

UFC superstar Nate Diaz is scheduled to face Leon Edwards at UFC 263 in a 5-round welterweight bout.

The career of Nate Diaz can be defined in three words: Superstardom. Inconsistency. Blood. And cannabis? Sure, let’s add cannabis. After winning the TUF 5 back in 2007, the Stockton-based scrapper has reached the highest highs and lowest lows of the sport.

From headlining two record-breaking cards in 2016 against Conor McGregor, to almost being cut from the company entirely, Diaz has been through it all. Judging by his recurring periods of inactivity in previous years, it is likely that his upcoming fight will be one of, if not the last time we see Diaz in the Octagon. Longtime fans of Diaz will surely voice their denial over this statement, but one man who will no doubt agree is #3 welterweight contender Leon Edwards.

Edwards is cruising into the bout on a 9-fight win streak. Yes, technically the Muhammad fight was a No Contest, but let’s be honest, it was only going one way. Looking as crisp as ever, Rocky Edwards has been described as the dark horse of the division. With Usman, Covington and Masvidal attracting the eyes of the masses, Edwards has been dispatching greats such as Dos Anjos, Cerrone and Luque, with his last defeat coming at the hands of Usman back in 2015. The Englishman is largely renowned for his pinpoint accuracy on the feet, yet has displayed more-than competent wrestling. Oh, and he holds a purple belt in BJJ. The guy is a nightmare.

Diaz has taken an ungodly amount of damage in the past few years. In a one-sided affair that felt almost criminal to watch, Masvidal landed crushing blow-after-blow on Diaz, ripping his face and body to shreds within 15 minutes (before the doctor waved it off). The two McGregor fight’s can be described as the same, only obviously much more competitive affairs.

The question I have found myself asking is this. What does Diaz have to offer Edwards? How does he win this fight? The UFC made the bout a 5-rounder, likely based on the assumption that Diaz will go full zombie-mode and outpace Rocky, overwhelm him and get the stoppage. Sorry, but this isn’t McGregor. Hell, this isn’t even Masvidal. This is a former middleweight, turned welterweight. A sniper, with a gas tank that is criminally underrated.

Final prediction: Nathan Diaz is going to need to vape a hell of a lot of CBD oil after this one.