UFC Star Nick Diaz Is Back to Doing What He Does Best: Acting Crazy

Nick Diaz, the former UFC welterweight contender who left the promotion in search of his smile earlier this year, has announced he's ready to return to the cage.

Not only is Diaz excited to be back, he's ready for a serious challenge—middleweight champion Anderson Silva, preferably sooner rather than later, according to Cesar Gracie.

There are two problems with this:

1. Diaz is currently suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission for a failed drug test. He isn't eligible to return to action until February 4, 2013.

2. Anderson Silva would straight up merk Nick Diaz. Like, no joke, death in the cage, beatdown of epic proportions, merk him. Like that time Glenn Danzig tried to pick a fight in a hallway. It wouldn't be pretty.

If Nick Diaz is trying to make a case to his critics and the Nevada Commission that he is no longer using drugs recreationally, this is a terrible way to do it. What welterweight, especially a welterweight who started his career at 155 pounds and should probably still compete there, really thinks it's a good idea to challenge the best middleweight in the world?

While I'm in an inquisitive mood, how about this question—in what world does Nick Diaz possibly deserve a shot at Anderson Silva? Last time I checked, Diaz lost his fight with Carlos Condit. That's not usually your ticket to the opportunity of a lifetime.

No one is a bigger Nick Diaz fan than I am. I am constantly amused by his antics, both in and out of the cage. From a safe distance, his kind of antisocial tomfoolery is a heck of a lot of fun. But Nick Diaz, well to borrow from the immortal Hank Hill, that boy ain't right.

I am happy he is coming back to fight in the Octagon. It's what he was born for. And if he wants to fight Anderson Silva, by all means please use the time off to bulk up responsibly and make a run at a title bout.

It has to be earned, though. Nothing in MMA is given. You have to take it. And you do that in this sport by putting another man's lights out or making him cry uncle.

If Nick Diaz wants Anderson Silva, he can have him—right after he proves he's the man for the job against Michael Bisping, Brian Stann or another top 10 middleweight. Not before. Even if your name is Nick Diaz.