Nate Diaz, ever the popular fighter, has once more sent fans into raptures with a social media post. Many are interpreting his move to be a possible hint at an Octagon return.
Diaz left the promotion back in 2022 after rallying to submit Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. The Stockton star had wrapped up a fourth-round guillotine choke submission over the ex-interim champion. He has made two professional boxing outings since then.
And suffering a professional boxing debut loss to Jake Paul, Diaz returned to the squared circle last summer. Avenging a 2019 loss to Jorge Masvidal in his home state, Diaz took home a controversial split decision win.
And, after his foray into the ring, Diaz has played up a potential return to the octagon. He is yet to land an opponent for his much-anticipated return. However, it seems the Stockton native will forever be tied to a rubber match with the inactive Conor McGregor.
On social media this weekend, Diaz claimed he would be in the game of combat sports “forever”, leaving fans once more hopeful of seeing him fight McGregor in a trilogy bout.
“Forever in the game,” Diaz posted on Instagram. “Hurry up and retire, ladies.” As expected, the comment section is littered with fans urging him to fight McGregor.
“Back in UFC, Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3,” a user commented. Another fan called for the same pairing, writing, “Conor vs. Nate 3?”
But a couple of users suggested he should first complete a trilogy with Jorge Masvidal. And even make his return to action in tandem with Liverpool-born fighter Darren Till, in an intriguing pairing.
To make good on his comeback to the UFC, Diaz has dropped somewhat of a shortlist of potential contenders to fight if he does make good on a return.
Diaz hints at Max Holloway showdown
Missing out on his chance to claim the inaugural symbolic BMF crown in his 2019 loss to Masvidal, Diaz seems to have at least some interest in competing for that belt again.
The BMF crown is currently held by former featherweight best, Max Holloway. It is up for grabs next month at UFC 318, with the Hawaiian meeting common rival, Dustin Poirier, in the Lafayette striker’s retirement fight.
But recently, amid talks of a potential fight with Ilia Topuria, TUF winner Diaz claimed he would be open to a fight with Holloway. Especially if spoils — symbolic or not — were on the line.
“I plan on going back to UFC,” Diaz said on The HJR Podcast. “If they’ll have me, I would like to go back and whoop someone’s ass there.
“I’m not fighting at 155, though. Right now, I’m not fighting in there because there’s nobody to fight, really. It’s kind of slow-rolling. I don’t really have a name in mind right now in UFC, that’s why I’m not there right now,” he added.
“Those are the guys right there that I would want to fight,” Diaz said. “Like Max Holloway. I’d like to fight that other guy [Topuria]. He’s really good, but he’s smaller than me. I’m done with 155, I’m cool with that. It always was [a hard weight cut], since I was 18, it was hard. I’m staying at 170. I’ll fight 185 too.”
Be it McGregor or Holloway, Diaz seemed keen on making his Octagon return, though at 40, he will have to work quite a bit to not just shake off the rust but also the challenges posed by age.
