For those of you who thought Nate Diaz wasn’t going to fight at UFC 230, think again.
Prior to seeing his co-main event tilt with lightweight contender Dustin Poirier cancelled following an injury to “Diamond,” the ultra-popular Diaz was apparently training like crazy for his awaited Octagon return. Remember, Diaz hasn’t fought since his decision loss to Conor McGregor back in 2016.
Until now, fight fans really didn’t know how involved Diaz was in his training camp for UFC 230. The 33-year-old released the above video earlier today (Fri., Feb. 22, 2019) via Instagram with the following message attached:
“A little footage from my last fight before my opponent bitched up…#Champlife,” wrote Diaz.
While fight fans have since turned the page on UFC 230, which produced decent box office numbers courtesy of a Daniel Cormier-Derrick Lewis heavyweight title fight, it’s nice to know Diaz was taking Poirier seriously. Just look at the above video montage. I can’t remember the last time Diaz looked that ripped leading into a fight.
It has been almost five months since Diaz’s co-main event scrap with Poirier was cancelled and the Stockton native still doesn’t have another fight booked. That is partially due to Diaz “going back on tour” after UFC 230’s fallout, but also for UFC not putting a good enough offer together to entice the combat star to re-enter the lightweight mix.
UFC president Dana White has stated that Diaz has been offered countless fights since his rematch with McGregor, including a bout with the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov, but the two side haven’t been able to get a deal done.
If the above video clip is an accurate portrayal of Diaz’s training regiment leading into his UFC return, the promotion should have zero reservations about booking Nate another high-profile fight.
After all, Diaz is on his way back.