It’s been 18 months since Nate Diaz last competed.
Back in 2022, the Stockton slugger famously fought out his UFC contract by finishing Tony Ferguson (not Khamzat) to earn his freedom. He’s only made use of his free agency twice, however, securing the very high-profile and lucrative Jake Paul boxing match before then earning revenge over Jorge Masvidal back in July 2024. Since then, Diaz’s time has been spent on the sidelines, though he did accept a short-notice Paul rematch that didn’t come to fruition.
All told, it’s not a ton of action for the longtime UFC veteran, who is now open to returning to the Octagon having secured a couple boxing paydays. Speaking with TMZ, the 40-year-old scrapper named three opponents as possibilities for his next fight … wherever that may take place.
“I’m ready to get back in real action,” Diaz said. “I want to fight either McGregor 3, maybe Dustin Poirier if he stops being such a p—sy, and then maybe Mike Perry. We’ll see what happens.”
There are significant obstacles to consider with two of the three names listed. Both McGregor and Poirier remain under UFC contract, and therefore Diaz has to get back on good terms with the UFC in order for either fight to happen. Also, Poirier retired last year, and McGregor has been effectively retired for five years despite constant chatter about a potential comeback.
Poirier, at least, did respond to the man he was supposed to fight all the way back in 2018 with a simple “belt to ass” promise.
Perry is a much more feasible option. Though he’s the face of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), Perry has been allowed to go off and compete for other organizations in the past. Even if Diaz wants to box Perry while wearing gloves, that feels easier to get done than the other two names mentioned, particularly since Perry has been calling to face Diaz for six years now.
I guess Diaz already forgot about that unfinished BMF business.
