Nate Diaz names three-man hitlist as he eyes UFC return
Nate Diaz says he has ‘unfinished business’ in the UFC.
Once a UFC superstar, Stockton’s Nate Diaz is currently a free agent after fighting out his contract against Tony Ferguson in 2022.
Following a memorable 27-fight UFC run that saw him upset Conor McGregor in 2016, Diaz stepped into the boxing ring where he boxed the likes of Jake Paul and BMF rival Jorge Masvidal in the last two years.
Diaz, who hasn’t fought since beating Masvidal in July, was recently in talks to rematch another former UFC foe, Josh Thomson, in boxing before it eventually ‘dissipated’.
Currently left without a fight, the former UFC headliner says he wouldn’t mind going back to the Octagon, but it’d have to be worth his while.
Nate Diaz says Conor McGregor trilogy ‘has got to happen’
There aren’t too many names on the UFC roster that catch Diaz’s eye for a potential fight, but Conor McGregor? That’s a name he’d come back for as the rivals are still tied up at 1-1 in their epic series.
“I plan on going back to the UFC,” Diaz said on the HJR Podcast.
“If they have me, I would like to go back and f—– whoop someone’s ass there.
“I’m not fighting in there because there’s nobody to fight really. It’s kinda slow rolling.
“Whenever he’s back,” Diaz said, when asked about a trilogy fight with McGregor.
“Me and him for sure got unfinished business. Got to happen.”
Stepping in as a short-notice replacement for Rafael Dos Anjos, Diaz submitted Conor McGregor in two rounds at UFC 196. This was McGregor’s first loss under the UFC banner, which he bounced back from with a majority decision win over Diaz at UFC 202.
Nate Diaz name-drops Ilia Topuria and BMF Champion Max Holloway as potential fights
Unimpressed with the UFC roster for the most part, Diaz says the BMF title is ‘the most entertaining thing’ in the promotion right now.
Diaz fought for the inaugural BMF title in 2019 against Jorge Masvidal, losing by doctor’s stoppage TKO due to a cut around his eye.
Masvidal, Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway have all had the BMF belt wrapped around their waist.
“It’s the most entertaining s— there is,” Diaz said of the BMF title.
“I hope you know you’re wearing my belt,” Diaz added.
“Those are the guys right there who I wanna fight like Max Holloway. But, besides that, I would like to fight other guys really good too…
“[Ilia] Topuria, he’s really good,” Diaz mentioned the former UFC featherweight champion.
“But he’s smaller than me,” Diaz said of the 5’7″ Topuria.
Ilia Topuria moved up to the lightweight division following his devastating knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308 last year and is set to challenge Charles Oliveira for the vacant title at UFC 317.
Holloway also fights Dustin Poirier a month later for the BMF title at UFC 318.
While Holloway and Topuria are some of the UFC’s biggest names, it’s worth noting Diaz said he was done fighting in the lightweight division (155lbs) where they both fight.
