A couple of top-ranked UFC lightweights want to welcome Nate Diaz back into the Octagon.
A couple of days ago, the enigmatic Nate Diaz declared that he would like to return to the Octagon in May or June. Despite not fighting for a year and a half following a loss to Conor McGregor, Nate still holds one of the marquee names in the division and anyone that gets the shot at him knows they’re getting a money fight. So with no third bout with McGregor on the horizon, it should come as no surprise that UFC lightweights are quickly trying to call Diaz out.
The first to do so was former champ Eddie Alvarez, who is fresh off an electrifying win over Justin Gaethje:
May-June is perfect @NateDiaz209 , see you then big guy #Eastcoastbeastcoast #Ufcmostviolent
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) January 24, 2018
Just a few minutes later, former interim title challenger Kevin Lee also threw his name into the hat, with a bit more of an edge in his message:
Put yo money up then @NateDiaz209 Or shut the fuck up and go back to riding bikes around the park https://t.co/g0DrhPY2zR
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) January 24, 2018
Diaz (20-11, 15-9 UFC) and Alvarez have a bit of history, engaging in some smack talk back in 2015. They were offered a fight, but both apparently turned it down. Lee has periodically taken shots at Diaz over the last year, but nothing has come of it.
I personally think an Alvarez-Diaz matchup would be amazing, so I hope that’s the direction things go. But we are talking about a Diaz brother here, so anything could happen.