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Gracie hints at Diaz-Koscheck, says Silva is interested

Who will Nick Diaz fight next in the UFC? © Getty Images

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Nick Diaz's coach, Cesar Gracie, has hinted that the welterweight's next fight could be against Josh Koscheck, although he revealed Anderson Silva's camp are also interested in making a fight.

Diaz is expected to return from suspension in February 2013, and it is anticipated that he will have to fight at least once before challenging for a UFC welterweight title.

Johny Hendricks would seem an obvious showdown for Diaz if champion Georges St-Pierre heads into a superfight with Silva, but Gracie appeared to hint that the UFC were thinking down a different route.

"They asked me, Koscheck or Demian Maia. I said probably Koscheck, more people have heard of him at 170," Gracie said on The MMA Hour. "They're both really tough guys though.

"But ultimately, we want the bigger fights. I could see, maybe, Nick and Hendricks would be interesting. That's what I'm thinking if they don't give him GSP, maybe a fight like that."

Diaz is something of a floating party in the GSP v Silva superfight talks. Both St-Pierre and Silva have been linked to the Stockton fighter at different times, so he could match up with either one of them if the UFC needs an alternative option.

Gracie claims Silva is extremely interested in the Diaz bout, but UFC president Dana White and matchmaker Joe Silva appear less sold on the idea.

"We're pushing for the GSP fight. That's what we're going to push for, GSP or Anderson Silva. That's the two fights that interest us the most, and that's the ones we're going for," Gracie said.

"[Silva's] people are into it. We're into it. The fans, I think, would be into it. We've got to convince Dana about it now.

"Obviously the fight that makes sense to them, and I don't disagree, is Anderson-GSP, and like I said, I would watch that fight. That would be great to watch.

"But let's get real. If GSP just absolutely says no, then what? You can't make a guy fight. That's the thing. And Anderson, if they want to promote a superfight and if the stars align, I think Nick would be into it."

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