Nick Diaz Hints at Return to UFC Ahead of Reinstatement

Former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz hinted at a return to the UFC in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

He posted this photo of him in a fighting stance and sporting what appears to be a black eye, with the caption "Back where we left off":

The 34-year-old is currently serving a suspension from MMA, but it will expire on April 19.

Diaz hasn't fought in the UFC since January 2015, falling to Anderson Silva via unanimous decision at UFC 183. The result was later overturned to a no-contest, with both fighters failing drugs tests.

Diaz tested positive for marijuana, which resulted in the Nevada State Athletic Commission handing him a five-year ban from the sport.

That suspension was eventually reduced and lifted in 2016, but before he could return to the Octagon, Diaz ran into trouble yet again.

Per Alexander K. Lee of MMAFighting.com, Diaz accepted a backdated one-year suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency on Monday. His period of ineligibility began on April 19 of last year, meaning Diaz's suspension is almost over.

Like his younger brother, Nate, Nick Diaz is a fan favorite, with many anxious for his return:

While most of his fights have come at welterweight, his last bout against Silva came in the 180-pound middleweight division. A meeting with former middleweight champion Michael Bisping would provide plenty of trash-talking in the lead-up and could be a massive hit inside the Octagon, too.