Nate Diaz has opened up on the prospects of a third bout with UFC legend Conor McGregor. Diaz frequented UFC bouts for years until he exited after defeating Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in September 2022. Many pundits and fans have tipped the 41-year-old for a blockbuster tiebreaker ten years after his two-legged fight against McGregor.
Diaz was the first fighter to defeat McGregor under the UFC banner. Months later, McGregor won the rematch by a majority decision. Having been a free agent since his Ferguson bout, Diaz has controlled his career and, eventually, the prospects of a comeback. While calls for a trilogy rematch with McGregor make one of the hottest UFC topics today, Diaz chooses to look away.
Nate Diaz has had enough of Conor McGregor
During a podcast with Ariel Helwani via MMA Mania, Diaz revealed he plans on returning to the UFC. However, these plans don’t accommodate a rematch with McGregor in any way. His interview admitted the promotion’s leaders desire a rematch with McGregor. However, Diaz reportedly found the UFC’s negotiations unfavorable to his career. Instead, he feels the story could benefit McGregor rather than himself.
“I know that they wanted the Conor fight right now… I’m not trying to be a comeback story for Conor.”
The Californian will headline MVP’s maiden MMA card against Mike Perry in Inglewood on Saturday. Perry will revisit the MMA after five years of absence. During his time away, Perry concentrated his efforts on an unbeaten career in the bare-knuckle boxing ring and a one-off return to professional boxing against Jake Paul in 2024. Saturday’s fight will see both fighters compete over five five-minute rounds in the welterweight division.
Meanwhile, Diaz has clarified that his May 16 fight against Perry isn’t under the MVP’s umbrella. He insists the fight is for Netflix, where he hopes to entertain fans with his combat skills. However, Diaz’s partnership with the MMA may have completely ruined any hopes of sealing a UFC return. Similarly, the chances of a potential fight with McGregor keep slipping by the day and may never materialize.
