Former UFC lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz is back in the title picture after a convincing TKO victory over Gray Maynard at The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 Finale last week.
Despite a 1-2 record in his past three bouts, the Stockton bad boy already has his eyes set on a title tilt with current champ Anthony Pettis.
On the week’s edition of UFC Tonight, “Showtime” indicated he wouldn’t mind a fight with Diaz if he is able to string together a couple of more wins, per Fighters Only.
“Nate Diaz has been talking so much. He looked pretty decent in his last fight. I hope he works his way up and we get to fight,” Pettis said.
Diaz was less than thrilled with the statement and fired back on Twitter on Wednesday night.
You work ur way up u have alot of catching up to do I was injured too still fought.. #1fightayearwhyrutalking
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) December 5, 2013
For the record, Pettis fought twice in 2011, once in 2012 and twice in 2013. Meanwhile, Diaz fought eight times during that two-year span.
Pettis compiled a 4-1 record with three finishes, while Diaz put together a 4-4 mark and also had three wins via stoppages.
Diaz has been calling out Pettis since September, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change anytime soon.
With his win over Maynard, Diaz is currently ranked the No. 5 lightweight, according to the UFC’s official rankings.
Whom should the UFC match up against Diaz and Pettis respectively in order to make this 155-pound showdown happen in 2014?
John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.
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