MARC DIAKIESE will be back in action at UFC London.
The Congolese-born Brit hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since the penultimate Fight Night card of 2022 – where he suffered a decision loss to veteran Michael Johnson.
Marc Diakiese will be back in action at UFC London on July 22GETTY
GETTYThe Bonecrusher will lock horns with dangerous Spaniard Joel Alvarez[/caption]
GETTYDiakiese will bid to get back in the win column with a statement victory over l Fenomeno[/caption]
And The Bonecrusher will bid to get back in the win column on July 22 at UFC Fight Night 226 – where he’ll tangle with Joel Alvarez.
A win over the highly-touted Alvarez will breathe new life into Diakiese’s bid to finally crack the lightweight top-15.
Spaniard Alvarez has only gone the distance twice in his stint inside the octagon and has won by stoppage or submission in his four victories in the promotion.
Alvarez, like Diakiese, will bid to return to the win column when mixed martial arts‘ premier promotion touches down in London town again.
El Fenomeno suffered a second-round TKO defeat to surging 155lb contender Arman Tsarukyan last February and hasn’t fought since.
Diakiese, 30, made a rip-roaring start to his octagon – which began nearly seven years ago at UFC 204 – winning his first three on the bounce.
A three-fight skid followed, although he bounced back with wins over Joseph Duffy and Lando Vanatta.
He’s since gone 2-3 in his last five – picking up impressive wins over Viacheslav and Borschev Damir Hadzovic.
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In an interview with SunSport, he said: “It’s been great [being in the UFC for six years].
“There’s been a lot of lessons learned from it as well.
“A lot of fallouts, a lot of things that have happened through it.
“I’ve had break-ups because of it and I’ve done a lot of things. But I’m just grateful to be able to be in the UFC and do what I’m doing.
“Being here, I’m able to help my mum, buy my own house, by my own cars. Things that I didn’t have before, now I can afford to.
Marc Diakiese is hellbent on eventually cracking the top-15GETTY
“I’m in Vegas [now] and I never thought I’d be in Vegas sitting here and talking to you guys.
“So I’m grateful to be able to have things that I could afford before. I can even help other people that I thought that I wouldn’t be able to.
“Now I’m able to help; my brother’s gone to school, they’ve both finished school just through what I do.
“So I’m happy. I’m not where I’d like to be, but I’m better than where I would’ve been.
“So I’m grateful for everything that I have in my life through the UFC.”