Nate Diaz changes his tune about potentially fighting former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor for a third fight. This comes off the heels of McGregor recently going on record by stating that he would be willing to fight Diaz for the 165-pound title.
Two Fights Before
Their last fight came back at UFC 202 when Diaz suffered a majority decision loss. This came five months after Diaz submitted McGregor in their first bout at UFC 196. Diaz has his next fight lined up as he’s slated to fight Dustin Poirier in a lightweight bout at the upcoming UFC 230 pay-per-view event.
TMZ Sportsrecently caught up with Diaz to get his take on McGregor fighting Nurmagomedov in the headliner of UFC 229 pay-per-view this weekend.
Nate Diaz Changes His Tune
This is where Diaz stated that he thinks McGregor is the favorite to win due to his belief that “Khabib is scared for his life.” He also stated that “I think Conor has got a way better fight style.” The reason for his mindset is due to the UFC lightweight champion not facing real quality opponents — “That fool ain’t fought nobody.”
Diaz also talked about a potential third fight against McGregor. This is where he downplayed it the idea.
“I ain’t fighting no trilogy. He already got his ass whipped. He can fight everybody else. I got shit to do too.”
Save The Date
The UFC 230 pay-per-view event is set to take place on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York City with the main card airing on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET while the preliminary card will air on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET and the promotion’s streaming service, UFC Fight Pass. A vacant flyweight title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Sijara Eubanks will serve as the headliner.
Surging UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee may be coming off of the biggest victory of his UFC career, but he’s already set his sights on his next opponent. After brutalizing Edson Barboza en route to a fifth-round TKO stoppage in April, Lee says he wants to welcome Nate Diaz back into the cage as rumors […]
Surging UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee may be coming off of the biggest victory of his UFC career, but he’s already set his sights on his next opponent.
After brutalizing Edson Barboza en route to a fifth-round TKO stoppage in April, Lee says he wants to welcome Nate Diaz back into the cage as rumors of Diaz’s imminent return have arisen.
With Diaz rumored to be in talks for a comeback fight at UFC 227, Lee says he’s focused on fighting the only man to beat Conor McGregor in the UFC (via MMA Junkie):
“I’m turning my focus to Nate. I think that Nate fight is out there to be had. He’s already run away from me once. Now they’ve got Aug. 4 coming up that he’s looking to get on.”
“I’m going to do a little bit of traveling, see the world a bit myself and kind of expand some more of that life to experience, which is just going to make me a better fighter. Coming back? I don’t know. I think the Khabib fight is the right one to make, but the Nate one is out there to be had. I know Dustin and Alvarez, they’re getting in it again, as they rightfully should. But we’ll how this thing shakes out. I’m going to turn my focus onto Nate.”
Diaz hasn’t fought since losing a decision in his UFC 202 rematch against McGregor back in 2016. Prior to that loss, Diaz submitted “The Notorious” in the second round at UFC 196.
Diaz has been on hiatus from fighting ever since the loss to McGregor, but sources say he’s in talks with the UFC for a return at UFC 227 in August. With every other top ten lightweight booked at the moment, that leaves No. 5-ranked Lee as the best option for the Stockton native.
How do you feel about a Lee vs. Diaz fight? Who would win should Lee get the fight he’s angling for?
For a while there, talks of a Tyron Woodley vs Nate Diaz Fight were as commonplace as the idea of the matchup picked up steam. Diaz may not have necessarily earned a shot at Woodley’s welterweight belt, but the numbers don’t lie: Nate sells well in big fights. He did so twice against Conor McGregor, […]
For a while there, talks of a Tyron Woodley vs Nate Diaz Fight were as commonplace as the idea of the matchup picked up steam.
Diaz may not have necessarily earned a shot at Woodley’s welterweight belt, but the numbers don’t lie: Nate sells well in big fights. He did so twice against Conor McGregor, and since then has been considered a headlining act, making massive monetary demands for his next fight.
Woodley attempted to sign on for a big title bout versus the younger Diaz at December 30’s UFC 219, but when that didn’t materialize because ‘Diaz didn’t want to fight him,’ he was set to go under the knife and get shoulder surgery he’s required since his win over Demian Maia at July’s UFC 214.
‘The Chosen One’ has since reconsidered that, but even if he did not, he thinks Diaz made monetary demands he knew the UFC would never consider to avoid facing him:
“I was trying to get in the cage by December 30th, and that didn’t pan out dld me. So I’m considering getting the surgery and I was going to make an appointment (for the surgery), and I decided against it.
I think the game needs me right now; I’m highly considering going a different route.”
“I was offered the fight against Nate (Diaz), Nate was offered a fight against me. He asked for more money, (but) I think Nate didn’t really want the fight. He threw out some ridiculous number (amount of money to fight), a number he knew he wasn’t gonna be compensated for.”
Diaz appears to be holding out for a trilogy match with Conor McGregor, whom he submitted at UFC 196 before losing a decision in the rematch at UFC 202.
Woodley says Diaz was offered the fight with him instead, and when the Stockton native asked for an exorbitant amount of money, in a way he turned down the fight. Woodley didn’t blame Diaz for asking for more money, yet he still thinks Diaz wasn’t living up to his hardcore, Stockton life reputation:
“Do I blame him for asking for more money? No,” Woodley said. “You can’t go from fighting Conor McGregor twice to fighting other tough welterweights and making a fraction (of the money).
“But don’t be the fighter behind “Don’t be scared, homie” and then end up being scared, homie.”
What are your thoughts on Diaz’s turning down the Woodley fight? Do you think he genuinely demands tens of millions of dollars for a fight or is he possibly trying to avoid a fight with Woodley?
The rivalry between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz will continue seven days from now at UFC 202. After seeing a short but eventful feud before UFC 196, Diaz got his hand raised on March 5. Submitting McGregor in the second round of a highly entertaining welterweight tilt, the Stockton bad boy turned the MMA world
The rivalry between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz will continue seven days from now at UFC 202. After seeing a short but eventful feud before UFC 196, Diaz got his hand raised on March 5. Submitting McGregor in the second round of a highly entertaining welterweight tilt, the Stockton bad boy turned the MMA world on its head. UFC 202 is about revenge for ‘The Notorious,’ as the defeat to Diaz was his first under the UFC banner.
While these two fierce rivals take another swing for the fences, Jose Aldo keeps he featherweight division warm. ‘Scarface’ defeated Frankie Edgar at FC 200 for the interim title and UFC president Dana White said McGregor is indeed going back to 145 pounds after the Diaz rematch. Obviously White said that following the first fight, and a victory for the Irishman on August 20 would almost certainly set up a trilogy fight.
One week away…
Confidence
The loss to the Cesar Gracie black belt hasn’t exactly got McGregor visibly shook for the rematch. Many felt he’d be much more quiet in the lead up to their second dance, if anything its been the exact opposite. Speaking yesterday during a media scrum, ‘The Notorious’ had plenty to say with one week left to go.
Why he wanted the rematch at welterweight…
“(Nate Diaz) is more than a welterweight now, he’s about 200 pounds, he’s been enjoying himself. I wanted the fight at welterweight otherwise it would have defeated the purpose of what this is all about. I feel I was in control of the fight, I was slapping the head off him. Let’s be real here, I wanted to keep it as is, I wanted to change my camp in preparation for the larger man.”
Conor Mcgregor with BJJ ace Dillon Danis…
Loads of questions surrounding Conor McGregor’s preparations for Nate Diaz were raised recently. Ever since the rematch was booked, we’ve all been curious about this topic. The Irish star reiterates that keeping to a schedule has been of paramount importance.
On changes in camp…
“We were just coming in and training whenever suited us, thinking ‘if we hit them they’ll fall.’ I feel structure is the key to true success. If you want to make it to the next level, the billions, you must have a structure in place. We were just winging in before, to a certain extent that works. We have set training times, set schedules and stuck to it. I’ve responded to it really well. This time we’ve had our set days and our rest days.”
“I would not have this anxiety to feel like I needed to train again. Everything was structured. You can’t be in the gym for 8-10 hours a day half-training, that’s not beneficial to what we are doing. These are changes we’ve implemented. It could no have gone better for me, I’m underweight, I’m perfect, he now has a lot of weight to cut and weigh-ins are creeping up.”
Back to featherweight?
Many fans and fellow fighters were up in arms when the second fight was announced. It’s been nine months now since McGregor won the featherweight title, and only yesterday the future of the 145-pound title was addressed. Contrary to what Dana White said, McGregor has his own take:
On Dana White’s comments about going back to featherweight after UFC 202…
“Yeah, I read those comments, we’ll see. There’s lot left to do, I’m going to face this man, do what I know I can do and put him away, and then we’ll talk. We’ll see.”
On Nate Diaz having a full camp…
“He said all this stuff about him not having a full camp for me, so let’s see what a full camp has done for him. I believe I am the better, faster and more skilled fighter. He’s durable, tough and bigger. That’s it, let’s see what the full camp has done. He spoke a big game about it, let’s see.”
Homer Simpson
“I’m up here looking to fight a man who has a win on me, and has 30 pounds on me. Look around the fight game, nobody is f*cking doing that. Nobody.”
“You ever see that episode of The Simpsons, where Homer is just getting the head just slapped off him? That’s the way Nate was in that fight, then he just pushes the guy when he’s tired and he falls over. He’s going to just take the shots this time, only difference is I’m still going to be there later on just pummeling his face.”
Fans now have only two weeks to wait until the next big pay-per-view UFC card. Topping that August 20 UFC 202 event will be the rematch between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor. The second chapter of their storied rivalry is in full swing, and the ball is essentially in McGregor’s court to even up the
Fans now have only two weeks to wait until the next big pay-per-view UFC card. Topping that August 20 UFC 202 event will be the rematch between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor. The second chapter of their storied rivalry is in full swing, and the ball is essentially in McGregor’s court to even up the score. The first fight was rich in rivalry, even though it only lasted 11 days, and provided some memorable moments.
Many argued the Stockton native had in fact won the war of words before UFC 196, a previously unattainable task for opponents of ‘The Notorious.’ Diaz would also go on to win the war of fists, handing McGregor his first loss in the octagon in impressive fashion. Little did we know they’d be linked to a rematch just weeks after their March 5 scrap had transpired. UFC 200 was the original target, later moved to UFC 202 when the Irishman fell in to disputes over media obligations.
Nate Diaz chokes Conor McGregor for the tap at UFC 196…
The Media Call
Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz were on tap for the UFC 202 media call his past Friday (August 5, 2016). In typical fashion of both men, Diaz was a man of few words, and McGregor of many. Aside from a number of one-word answers provided by Nate Diaz, the Stockton bad boy did give some insight regarding his history of contract issues with the UFC. The tale of his rise to stardom is often underscored by his win over McGregor, but Diaz said this was simply a shortcut. As quoted by MMAFighting.com.
“This guy talks about all these fighters like they’re f*cking dumb, and he’s right, they’re all f*cking dumb,”
“I’m not one of those guys who sat around here f*cking taking contracts. I’ve been bitching about my contract for the last six years. I’ve been going through hell, so I knew I was going to get mine. When it was time to get mine, I was going to get what I was going to get regardless, and I had a plan to do it. It’s not thanks to Conor that I got all of this, but I’m going to say that was a shortcut.”
Nate Diaz toys with Michael Johnson during one of his greatest performances…
Nate Diaz Plots
Contrary to popular belief, Diaz says he’s masterminded the current upswing in his popularity and career success.
“If I was stupid, I wouldn’t have got to where I’m at,” Diaz said. “I did what I had to do. I got that fight with Johnson, I plotted him out and I got sh*t done. And then I plotted back and got this on a 10-day notice and it worked out still, regardless. I asked for the fight, I said I wanted the fight, I got the fight, so I’m going to take the fight.
“So it’s like, I feel I’m in the position I’m in because I put myself in this position, and it’s not great, it’s not horrible, it’s f*cking what it is. So that’s been my take on the whole situation. I wasn’t following the leader on making some money here. I was going to get my money regardless, and I was going to get where I’m at regardless. But I will say that he was a shortcut.”
It’s been an absolutely crazy year in the world of mixed martial arts so far. We’ve seen seven champions dethroned by a large percentage of underdogs in the UFC alone. Outside the arena of combat there’s been some harrowing lows, with the losses of numerous fighters and legends still weighing heavy on our minds. Inside […]
It’s been an absolutely crazy year in the world of mixed martial arts so far. We’ve seen seven champions dethroned by a large percentage of underdogs in the UFC alone. Outside the arena of combat there’s been some harrowing lows, with the losses of numerous fighters and legends still weighing heavy on our minds. Inside the biggest MMA promotion things have been getting wild, and we’ve been right here with you every step of the way.
It’s time to look forward now, as there are a number of seriously entertaining fights coming up. Once again it’s the UFC with all the marbles as we are deep in to the second half of 2016. New owners, same stars and a whole bunch of exciting scraps to anticipate is the story of the UFC right now. Let’s take a peak at the five upcoming UFC fights you really don’t want to miss!
Carlos Condit vs. Demian Maia
Former interim welterweight champion and WEC boss Carlos Condit will look to bounce back from a very narrow split decision loss to Robbie Lawler at UFC 195. Now ‘Ruthless’ has been dethroned by Tyron Woodley, the division is once again shifting, but hoping to capitalize will be Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ace Demian Maia.
Maia submitted Matt Brown at UFC 198 to make it five straight wins, and his August 27 date with ‘The Natural Born Killer’ has a lot on the line. This one has all the makings of a great fight, so tune in to watch UFC on FOX 21 and see who emerges as the next title contender at 170 pounds.
![Carlos-Condit[1]](http://cdn.lowkickmma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Carlos-Condit1.jpg)