He certainly moved the needle against Conor McGregor during their two record breaking fights in 2016.
Aug, 20, 2021, marked the five-year anniversary of Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor 2, the fourth biggest fight in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history. Turn the clock back to when it happened in 2016, and it was the biggest pay-per-view (PPV) in UFC history, only eclipsed by Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor in 2018 and then the two Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier fights in 2021.
To mark the occasion, Nate Diaz humbly suggested via social media that he kicked off the super fight era. And you know what? He’s not really wrong on that.
“UFC 202 Diaz vs McGregor 2: The start of the super fight era,” Nate wrote. “You’re welcome Floyd, the Paul sisters and youtubers around the world. It’s a new day in age I told you I was changing the game, Ariel Helwani. I might not get the credit, but I’ll take the motherf—kin credit. Don’t forget before I fought Conor I was the biggest name he ever fought too.”
He also went on Twitter to claim the series with McGregor wasn’t really 1-1 as the official record stands.
He got finished off with a choke
That last fight didn’t even thangs out
He’s still far behind but it’s Gucci— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) August 21, 2021
To which McGregor responded:
@NateDiaz209 happy anniversary kid. Party tonight in Delilah
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 21, 2021
Proper fighting pic.twitter.com/WBMDmSXNqU
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 21, 2021
We have no doubt that a third fight between the two would be huge, and might just be the perfect bout to finally hold after McGregor comes back from that bad leg break suffered against Dustin Poirier in July (see it here).
What do you think, Maniacs? Any interest in a rubber match five years on?