Nate Diaz has two names in mind for his UFC comeback.
Nate Diaz is gearing up for a return to the UFC, but the former lightweight title challenger has absolutely no interest in a trilogy bout with Conor McGregor.
Diaz hasn’t fought since his TKO loss to Jorge Masvidal in 2019 but the MMA veteran still feels he deserves a crack at newly uncrowned lightweight champ Dustin Poirier, however, the fight must be contested at either 165 or 170 pounds.
“Now is the time for sure,” Diaz told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani when asked about a potential comeback fight against Poirier (h/t MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck). “We should have fought a long time ago and now the stars are aligned.
“He just won the fight [with Conor] and that’s the fight. I’m ready for a fight, and people are ready for the big fight. Now is the time.”
Diaz and Poirier were scheduled to fight at UFC 230 but ‘The Diamond’ pulled out due to injury. Diaz believes Poirier never really wanted the fight in the first place despite all the trash talk on social media.
“Dustin Poirier was supposed to fight me anyways and he didn’t make it. He pulled his ass out,” Diaz said. “I don’t think he wants to [fight me], no. He may say he does but I don’t think he does because I’m not gonna play nice guy with him like Conor McGregor just did with him. I think a fight with me would be a more serious situation for him and I don’t think he could sleep with that.”
If the Poirier fight falls through, Diaz would be interested in taking on top-three lightweight contender Charles Oliveira. But, again, the fight would have to be contested at a catchweight of 165 pounds or higher.
“That’s the guy right there. I’ll fight that guy,” Diaz said of Oliveira. “I like the winners. I want to fight winners because I ain’t lost to nobody.
“I like the Oliveira fight or the Dustin Poirier fight.”
Diaz has been inactive since his ‘BMF’ title loss to Masvidal, but the Cesar Gracie Jiu Jitsu product is still one of the most popular fighters in the sport and has been called out by just about every fighter in the lightweight division.