Could we see the Diaz vs Cowboy rematch at 185?
Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone says Nate Diaz is open to a rematch with him… at middleweight. Brett Okamoto reports that Cerrone and Diaz had a conversation at UFC 235. Cerrone asked Nate when he was fighting again. Diaz responded ‘It’s not me. UFC doing it’, implying that their promoter is the reason he has been inactive for so long.
Cowboy: Well, just so you know, I’ll fight you.
Diaz: S—. We’ll do it at 185. I’m done cutting weight.
Cowboy: Okay.
Exchange at UFC 235 last weekend, per Cowboy Cerrone.
Cowboy: Nate, when you fighting again?
Diaz: It’s not me. UFC doing it.
Cowboy: Well, just so you know, I’ll fight you.
Diaz: S—. We’ll do it at 185. I’m done cutting weight.
Cowboy: Okay.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 10, 2019
Diaz and Cerrone fought way back in 2011 in at UFC 141, Diaz outstriking him 260-104, a UFC record not broken until Max Holloway beat Brian Ortega at UFC 231. A rematch would find both men at very different stages of their career. With the McGregor bout both have been hoping for not forthcoming, this might represent the highest profile matchup available for either man that isn’t directly connected to a UFC belt.
Of course, that would mean getting Diaz back into the Octagon, something that has proved challenging for the UFC. Whether the issue is on his end as Dana White claims, or their end as Diaz claims, they have had a rocky relationship. Diaz was booked to face Dustin Poirier at UFC 230, but that bout fell through after Poirier withdrew due to injury.
Cerrone, meanwhile, is known for being extraordinarily active, a company man and team player. After a stint at welterweight, he most recently dropped back down to lightweight to demolish Alex Hernandez in a veteran’s performance.
Why 185 though? Diaz is known to be a big lightweight, supposedly getting up near 200 pounds when he isn’t training. His brother Nick went from fighting Takanori Gomi at 160 to fighting Anderson Silva at 185, so perhaps this is just the Diaz way. Cowboy is known for being willing to fight anyone, anytime, any weight, so he wouldn’t care. Diaz-Cerrone II is a fight everyone can love — at any weight class.