5 fighters with a major point to prove at UFC 266 this weekend

#2. Nick Diaz – Former UFC title challenger

After a lengthy absence, Nick Diaz will want to prove he still belongs in the UFC this weekend

Despite UFC 266 featuring two title fights, the biggest spotlight of the weekend will probably fall upon returning superstar Nick Diaz.

Diaz – who faces old foe Robbie Lawler in a long-awaited rematch that has been shifted to middleweight – has not fought in the UFC since January 2015. While his notoriety and popularity have both remained intact during his absence, it’s hard to tell how much he actually has to offer these days.

After all, the native of Stockton, California is now 38 years old. And while he’s been absent for long stretches, he’s still been fighting in MMA at a high level since 2001.

Diaz therefore needs to prove that he still belongs in the UFC, and to do that, he’ll have to beat Lawler impressively. ‘Ruthless’ has hardly been on a great run in his own right, as he’s on a losing streak in what looks like the final stretch of his career.

If Diaz struggles against Lawler, it’ll suggest that he simply doesn’t belong among the upper echelons of the UFC any more. If he can win impressively though, the UFC could easily push him right back into title contention.

Naturally, title contention is the only goal that Diaz has in mind, leaving him with a major point to prove this weekend.

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#1. Alexander Volkanovski – UFC featherweight champion

Alexander Volkanovski still deserves more respect than he gets from UFC fans

On the face of it, current UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski should have nothing to prove at all this weekend. He’s already ranked by the UFC as the #4 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and he holds victories over Max Holloway, Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.

Despite this, though, and despite his impressive 22-1 record, it feels like ‘Alexander the Great’ doesn’t get the respect he deserves from a lot of UFC fans. Quite why this is remains baffling, as he’s never performed at anything but a phenomenal level when he’s stepped into the octagon.

In fact, it’s arguable that Holloway was the first opponent to really test him. Even then – in their first fight in particular – it was clear that Volkanovski was the better man.

Therefore, ‘Alexander the Great’ will want to prove that he really is the greatest featherweight on the planet, bar none, by defending his UFC title in impressive fashion against Brian Ortega this weekend.

Ortega is an excellent fighter in his own right, with his only career loss coming at the hands of Holloway. It’s also arguable that he’s a better finisher than Volkanovski.

But the Australian should be favored over ‘T-City’ this weekend. If he can beat Ortega down, then nobody will be in a position to question him again.