Cesar Gracie says Nick Diaz will fight again

Nick Diaz's longtime coach, Cesar Gracie, is confident the former Strikeforce welterweight champion will compete again.

"Let's face it," Gracie said. "He's a fighter and he's gonna fight. It's gonna happen."

Gracie made the comments on Monday's edition of the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, which took place before Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites in a post-fight drug test following his match against Anderson Silva at UFC 183. At the time, however, Gracie seemed adamant his fighter would return to the Octagon despite pockets of retirement talk.

"I think a guy like him is better served doing big fights, no matter where they're at," Gracie said. "Seriously, no matter where the fight is - even if he has to go down a lighter weight than even 170. He wants big fights. That's what motivates him. I think that's what the greatest guys did was they didn't look so much at weight classes, but they looked at the big fights that motivate them."

With his future in the sport uncertain, it's safe to say there's still demand to see the elder Diaz brother fight again.

"Who wouldn't want to see Vitor Belfort or someone like that fight Nick?" Gracie said. "Or who wouldn't want to see maybe Nick beat a 170-pounder and then fight (Robbie) Lawler if that's what they have to happen? There's different scenarios I think that would be fun."