It seems that Nate Diaz isn’t just looking to finish out his contract and leave the UFC, he is ready to get out of the hurt business altogether.
Fight fans have not seen Diaz (20-13) compete inside the Octagon since a June 2021 unanimous decision loss to, likely welterweight top contender, Leon Edwards (19-3). Although he was dominated for the majority of the duos special five-round non-headliner clash at UFC 263, he gave fans something to remember with a last-minute rally where he had the Englishman hurt and looking to survive.
Since then, January was filled with social media trash talk and fantasy matchmaking as Diaz and former lightweight top-contender Dustin Poirier (28-7) angled to make a welterweight fight between the two at UFC 270 in Calif. However, a booking could never be put together between the two, and fans now wonder when the Stockton bad boy will return to the Octagon for the final fight on his current UFC deal.
Nate Diaz is looking to fight Dustin Poirier and retire from fighting completely
The 36-year-old Diaz made an appearance at a Shaq Fun House event in Los Angeles on Friday. The location of Sunday’s Super Bowl 56. During his walk down the red carpet at the “Fun House,” Diaz had a quick conversation with TMZ Sports and informed the outlet that a fight with Poirier is still his preference. So that he can not only finish out his UFC deal but leave the fight game behind altogether.
“I would like to fight Dustin Poirier,” Diaz said. “Like now. Like I’ve been trying to. If there’s any mix-up it’s him, and them, and the game. I want the fight now. What’s up Dana White? Let’s get this retirement fight cracking so I can get out of this fight game. I’m done with it.”
Many assumed that Diaz would finish out his UFC deal and test combat sports free agency. Offering up his fighting services to the highest bidder, with the expectation that might culminate in a clash with YouTuber turned boxing star, Jake Paul. However, with these latest comments, it seems like Nick’s little brother is ready to call it a career in the near future.
Do you think this is just a grand talk from Diaz, or could you see him ending his run in the fight game after one more fight in the Octagon?
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