UFC veteran Nicolas Dalby has been out of action since September 2016. 

Dalby (14-2-1) entered the UFC with a perfect record and earned a victory in his Octagon debut before fighting to a draw vs. Darren Till and then going on a two-fight losing streak. 

A unanimous decision loss to Peter Sobotta at UFC Fight Night 93 marked Dalby's most recent outing, but now he is ready to return. 

This week, Dalby took to social media to open up about depression and alcoholism, which has led to his extended absence from mixed martial arts. 

The welterweight detailed his struggles in a lengthy post while also announcing his return to MMA.

The caption reads:

“For me, one of my biggest fights are coming up, literally and figuratively. Literally, because I have committed to step foot in a cage to fight again after 1 1/2 years away from the sport, after something that ended in me suffering two defeats in a row, the first ones in over 10 years of competitive fighting. 

“But also figuratively. Figuratively because I have been battling a deep depression which resulted in alcoholism, apathy and hurtful behavior towards the people I hold the dearest. Experiencing all of that and putting it behind me has been a very bumpy detour away from and back to the main-road that leads in the right direction.”

He continued with some reflection about what is going through his mind ahead of his emotional return.

"How do you come back after a downfall like that? Can you imagine the self-doubt? Can my body still handle a [grueling] fight camp? Is my mind strong enough to handle the sessions where nothing is working, doubt sneaks in and the lingering injuries that undoubtedly lie ahead play with your head? Am I strong enough physically & mentally to not just take the fight but to actually go in there and unleash the hell & fury I have in me when [I] believe in myself and I’m running on all cylinders (plus nitro)?

"Those are the questions that will get answered before summer arrives." 

He concluded powerfully.  

"Maybe I’ll get a major injury in the lead up to the fight. Maybe things won’t 'click' when I’m finally in the cage. Maybe I will lose the fight. But there’s only one way to find out.

"And that’s by [fu*king] doing it! And doing it 110%! This is a fight to determine my future. Now is the time to prove to myself, my girlfriend, my friends, my family & the rest of the world what I’m made of. That I am going to follow up to the promises I made myself. And that is the real fight. If I do that, do the very best I can."

Dalby initially did not give an exact date, promotion or opponent for his return, but he followed up the previous Instagram post with another, this time shedding some of those details. 

According to the post, he will fight April 28 at Cage Warriors 93 in Sweden. 

Dalby previously won and defended the Cage Warriors welterweight title before moving to the UFC, so it will be interesting to see if heading back to his roots helps him find his footing and regain traction in his promising career.

By Josh Sanchez