Nate Diaz, known for his candidness, has shed light on his decision to decline the chance to face Conor McGregor upon the latter’s return to the UFC. Speaking ahead of his boxing match against Mike Perry under the MVP banner, Diaz explained that the promotion sought to place him as McGregor’s opponent for his highly anticipated comeback fight. However, Diaz was not amenable to these terms.
Diaz had been in discussions regarding a UFC return after his departure from the roster in 2022. Ultimately, he opted to remain outside the organization, pursuing boxing and competing under his own promotional banner instead.
Diaz’s Reasoning for Declining the McGregor Fight
In a recent interview, Diaz articulated his stance clearly: he did not wish to be utilized as the “B-side” in a narrative designed to facilitate McGregor’s resurgence. He stated, “I know that [the UFC] wanted the Conor fight right now… and I’m like, I’m not trying to be a comeback story for Conor. I want Conor back, and then I want him to be fucking showing people he’s whipping ass. Then that’s the guy I want. I don’t wanna be fighting a guy that they don’t know about, because I know he’s gonna come back and do good. I don’t need him to do it on me.”
These remarks coincide with renewed speculation surrounding McGregor’s return. UFC President Dana White has indicated that McGregor is expected to compete this summer, with potential appearances on the July International Fight Week card or UFC 329 being considered. McGregor has not competed since sustaining a broken leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. At 37 years old, he is reportedly strategizing his comeback carefully after numerous postponements and public exchanges regarding potential opponents.
In contrast, Diaz has remained actively engaged in competition. Following his submission victory over McGregor at UFC 196 and his subsequent loss in the rematch at UFC 202, Diaz concluded his initial UFC tenure with a win against Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in September 2022. He then entered free agency, headlining a pay-per-view boxing match against Jake Paul in August 2023. He is now set to headline the MVP MMA event against former BKFC champion Mike Perry, with the fight being streamed globally on Netflix. This strategic positioning has provided Diaz with considerable leverage and visibility outside the established UFC framework.
Within this broader context, Diaz’s refusal to serve as McGregor’s launchpad aligns with the ongoing dynamic between the two fighters. Diaz still desires a third encounter but on terms where McGregor has already re-established himself against other opponents. This would ensure their trilogy fight is a contest between two active and victorious fighters, rather than a tune-up bout for a star returning from a lengthy layoff.
