Nick Diaz taunts Anderson Silva during their UFC 183 fight, inset throwback banner. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Nick Diaz beat UFC GOAT at his own game in dream fight that resulted in a five-year suspension

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Kyle Dimond | Last updated Jan 31, 2026 7:29 PM ET

The name Nick Diaz draws a reaction from MMA fans that is hard to match.

There’s a reason why people were so happy to see Diaz recently overcome some health concerns and make his way back to the gym.

It has been argued that the UFC currently lacks star power, but this wasn’t an issue when the likes of the Stockton original were around.

Diaz had his issues with wrestling-heavy fighters but watching him trade with other strikers was always exhilarating.

Therefore, putting him in the Octagon with one of the most dangerous fighters of all time on this day in 2015 seemed to be a match made in heaven.

Nick Diaz taunted Anderson Silva in a dream fight that didn’t live up to expectations

Before Nick Diaz’s disappointing comeback against Robbie Lawler, his career ended in a bout that is well known for several different reasons.

It has been over a year since the fans had last seen Anderson Silva compete due to the gruesome leg injury that he suffered in his rematch with Chris Weidman.

The perfect way to welcome ‘The Spider’ back to the Octagon was to pair him with a fellow legend and fan favorite in Diaz.

Unfortunately, their UFC 183 main event clash didn’t live up to the hype due to their styles not mixing well together.

The highlight of the bout was undoubtedly Diaz out-taunting Silva by lying on the ground and posing due to the long periods of the fight where very little happened.

They combined for a total of 185 significant strikes across the five rounds, with Silva being declared the winner with clean sweeps on two of the scorecards.

However, the outcome of the bout wasn’t the only thing that impacted both men’s careers.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz both received suspensions and fines after UFC 183

In the days after Anderson Silva’s win over Nick Diaz, it was announced that both fighters involved in the main event had failed drug tests.

‘The Spider’ went on to be suspended for a year with the result overturned to a no contest despite his team’s attempts to explain why he had drostanolone metabolites and androsterone in his system.

Diaz, on the other hand, had failed his test due to marijuana metabolites.

Due to this being the third time that he had failed a test because of this, he was suspended for a staggering five years.

An appeal that took place four months later reduced his suspension to 18 months, though it would still be six years before he’d return.