Nick Diaz is one of the top welterweight fighters of the past decade. The 27 year-old California native has earned an enviable 25 to 33 win record since the start of his professional MMA career in 2001. Diaz’s dominant position in his division, however, has left him with few opportunities for new, notable match-ups. Although he has no plans to leave the Strikeforce organisation, Diaz and his management are currently on the lookout for contests worthy of the fighter’s high profile (and high earnings potential.)

One move the Diaz camp is seriously considering is a foray away from MMA and into the world of professional boxing. This would actually be familiar territory for Diaz who, to the surprise of some fans, already has a pro boxing record. His sole match to date was against Alfonso Rocha in 2005. Diaz won by decision.

He is currently looking to get back into boxing because it may be the surest path to more high-profile matches. “These guys get to the point in their career where they want the big fights," said his manager, Cesar Gracie, in a recent interview, referring to Diaz and his contemporaries in Strikeforce.

Plans were all but finalised for a fight between Diaz and former International Boxing Federation champ Fernando Vargas. What was set to be a major, highly marketable event, however, failed to pan out. Vargas failed a medical test and the match was then quickly called off. “Vargas was very interested, but unfortunately, if he can't pass the test, he can't pass the test,” remarked Gracie. So Diaz must now find another competitor to kick off his switch to boxing with.

Another option that could move Diaz’s career forward is to drop his boxing aspirations and stick with MMA, but to switch to the middleweight class. One match both he and Gracie, his manager, would love to see would be against UFC champion Anderson Silva. “He’d drop everything to fight him,” said Gracie.

Also at the top of the list of UFC stars Diaz would jump at the chance to do battle with is welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre. Despite the fact that the two men are currently in the same weight class, however, it’s a fight that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. Due to the complex web of loyalties and contract regulations surrounding professional MMA, Diaz is better off looking elsewhere for his next big match.

Rather surprisingly, Gracie has spoken candidly in a number of recent interviews about Diaz’s faltering motivation. “He's just kind of going through the motions. He's not training as hard as he used to. It's been a problem, really,” Gracie said.

This statement suggests that Diaz really needs to arrange a “serious” fight in order to regain his intensity. He has successfully defended his Strikeforce welterweight title three times in row. If we go by Gracie’s words, a sense of complacency has clearly set in for Diaz. Whether it’s a boxing match or an MMA bout with a big name UFC fighter, Diaz is more than ready to step up to his next big challenge.