The Stockton native has endured a trying time away from the sport. The 42-year-old has had troubles with substance abuse, forcing his girlfriend to make a plea for help as his health was quickly deteriorating.
However, since then, he has been fighting hard to return to his former self. Just last month, Nick Diaz provided fans with a positive update regarding his well-being after returning home from a stint in rehab.
Nick Diaz is back from rehab, he looks healthy ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0g91meWNkv
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) January 11, 2026
Diaz, striving for better, has also returned to the mats with his good friend Jake Shields.
The pair ran a light sparring session, with minimal contact and grappling. Throughout training, Diaz can be seen smiling and laughing, which will undoubtedly be a great sight for his family, friends, and fans.
Jake Shields was happiest of all to see his friend back in the gym.
“A little play sparring with Nick Diaz this morning,” Shields wrote in a post on X. “Nick was my top training partner for over 15 years so it’s good to get back together and train.”
A little play sparing with Nick Diaz this morning
Nick was my top sparing partner for over 15 years so it’s good to get back together and train @nickdiaz209 pic.twitter.com/OLNHA1tPgR
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) January 13, 2026
Related: UFC veteran provides huge update on Nick Diaz’s wellbeing
Jake Shields and Nick Diaz have shared many years sparring together, both achieving huge success in the cage as a close-knit team, including Gilbert Melendez and Nick’s younger brother, Nate Diaz.
During their best years fighting, Shields and Diaz held the Strikeforce middleweight and welterweight titles, respectively, alongside several other world championships over the years.
With his sobriety journey on the right path, questions remain whether Nick Diaz would ever welcome a return to the octagon. Diaz was named by Jorge Masvidal as one of his ideal opponents, but with age not on his side, it’s unclear whether a fight will materialize.
