Nate Diaz shocked many when he was named to face Mike Perry on the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card, relatively than a possible trilogy with Conor McGregor, who’s eyeing a return to the UFC.
Diaz later admitted that the UFC had really supplied him higher monetary phrases, however mentioned he had no real interest in placing the ultimate nail in McGregor’s coffin after 5 years aside. Nonetheless, Diaz hasn’t fully given up hope of by no means combating McGregor once more. He simply does not need it to be the primary combat for the Irish famous person, who’s getting back from two losses and broke his foot in his final combat towards Dustin Poirier.
“Rattling, (the work with Conor McGregor is just not finished), it’s simply ready to occur,” Diaz informed MMA Combating. “What I am saying is, I am an actual fighter. Conor McGregor, he is nonetheless good, he is nonetheless nice. He is shitting himself and what the UFC says and every part else. However I am not going to let him take a look at it. I am not going to be a part of this fucking Conor McGregor comeback shit story.
“I do not wish to finish him. Why do not you simply come again and do your factor? And in case you’re doing all of your factor and I am doing mine, you owe me shit a very long time in the past anyway (Half 3) I consider it like a fucking bully. What are you going to do? Let him come again and do his factor after which go beat his ass.”
All indicators level to McGregor rematching Max Holloway since they first met in 2013. That evening, McGregor gained by determination regardless of struggling a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee whereas Holloway was coping with a severe ankle harm.
Diaz has no real interest in dealing with McGregor once more till McGregor returns to the cage and does effectively.
As a substitute, Diaz stands by his declaration that he solely needs to combat the most effective on the planet, which is why he was so trying ahead to dealing with Perry after establishing himself because the face of bare-knuckle martial arts at BKFC.
“I am attempting to combat guys like Mike Perry,” Diaz defined. “He simply knocked out Luke Rockhold, he knocked out Eddie Alvarez, he took over the enterprise by fooling everybody with the welterweight and middleweight champs, he simply fucked up all of the worst assholes exterior of the UFC. I am attempting to combat the hardest competitors. The one purpose I did not combat in all my years within the UFC and off was as a result of they did not give me the most effective. I at all times wished the most effective powerful guys.
“Is Conor McGregor within the ranks now? He is recovering from a knockout. He is recovering from a damaged leg. He is popping out of[a downward spiral].”
If McGregor returns and pulls off a formidable win, particularly towards a fighter like Holloway, Diaz shall be blissful to reply the decision.
“I would like Connor to return again and do a superb job so we are able to take the lead and go into the sport,” Diaz mentioned. “I wish to combat my opponent in my greatest situation, not my worst.”
Diaz stays on the identical web page concerning a possible matchup with Dustin Poirier.
The 2 had been scheduled to fulfill once more in 2018, however the combat was canceled and Diaz by no means acquired an opportunity to cross paths with Poirier once more.
Poirier, in fact, introduced his retirement after his loss to Holloway in July 2025, however the former interim light-weight champion lately admitted that Diaz shall be his solely combat again within the Octagon.
“I nonetheless wish to whip Nate’s ass,” Poirier mentioned on the Darkish Waters podcast. “I will be again to combat him.”
It is also a good suggestion to stack Poirier over McGregor as an opponent who has no real interest in Diaz, particularly contemplating the circumstances surrounding his retirement after dropping a career-ending combat.
“I really feel the identical means about fucking Poirier,” Diaz mentioned. “You are gonna come out of retirement for me, bitch? I’ve by no means retired, I by no means supposed to, and I by no means supposed to. Why do not we simply put that son of a bitch again within the ring and begin combating individuals, and when the time is true, we’re gonna hyperlink up and have a fucking match.”
“However do not depart it to me to return out of retirement. It is over. It is over. Go lie down along with your girlfriends and put your gloves away (within the warehouse), asshole. I am not going to combat a retired man. I will give my greatest combat.”
Cash is at all times vital, however Diaz guarantees to stay targeted on combating solely prime competitors and do not count on to hurry to signal a contract if he does not qualify.
“There are a selection of battles to be fought,” Diaz mentioned. “I am not combating as a result of they will not give me the most effective. I’ve at all times fought the most effective. I assure you, I’ve fought extra top-five ranked opponents than any champion ever. That is what makes me a champion in my e book. I really feel like I am higher than everybody in my very own eyes and within the total state of affairs.”
