Nate Diaz says the UFC floated a McGregor comeback fight and he refused to be the “comeback story,” though he’d consider a later rematch.
Nate Diaz is making it clear he had no interest in helping set the terms of Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon.
Diaz. who has not competed in the UFC since 2022. remains active in MMA and boxing to some degree. but it still isn’t certain whether the UFC will attempt to bring him back.. In discussions about any potential return. Diaz told Ariel Helwani that the promotion allegedly tried to line up a bout that would also position him as the first opponent McGregor could face upon returning.
According to Diaz. the UFC’s plan appeared to revolve around McGregor. who has not fought since 2021 and is widely expected by observers to come back.. In that scenario. a matchup with Diaz would have carried extra weight because their history already includes two fights in 2016. split between the pair.. A third bout would have completed the trilogy while turning Diaz into a high-profile centerpiece of McGregor’s comeback.
Diaz said he was not interested in being that specific character in the storyline.. He described the pitch as involving “right now” timing for the McGregor fight. suggesting the promotion was pushing the idea even if it wasn’t formally presented as a finalized offer.. His objection. as he framed it. was less about whether he could compete and more about what it would mean for his role in McGregor’s comeback.
“I’m not trying to be [a] comeback story for Conor. ” Diaz said in essence. adding that he wants to see McGregor return and prove himself for the audience before any fight between them happens.. Diaz indicated he would be open to facing McGregor after the Irish star comes back at a later point. rather than being the opponent selected immediately upon McGregor’s return.
Diaz also argued that he doesn’t want to fight a version of the matchup where the opponent is still being tested by the public. saying he understands McGregor is likely to return well and perform at a high level.. The distinction. in Diaz’s view. is that he doesn’t need McGregor to “do good” in order to justify a fight. because Diaz believes McGregor will be ready regardless.
At 41 years old. Diaz’s willingness to return—if it happens—would likely translate into a shorter commitment. even as the prospect remains plausible.. Any Diaz-McGregor fight would immediately become one of the most significant events in combat sports. driven not only by the popularity of both fighters but also by how polarizing they have remained with audiences.
That promotional spotlight is heightened by the significance of what the trilogy would represent.. Their first two UFC meetings in 2016 were split outcomes. leaving a third fight as the natural closure to a rivalry that has stayed culturally loud long after the Octagon action.. For Diaz. the question was whether that closure would be achieved on McGregor’s preferred timeline—something he said he declined to participate in.
Separately. Diaz’s comments arrive amid ongoing chatter in the broader UFC landscape. including reports involving Khamzat Chimaev calling out Sean Strickland for a rematch after UFC 328. as well as information about the direction of a Conor McGregor-Max Holloway fight that has been discussed as potentially being close to the “goal line” for UFC 329.
The immediate implication of Diaz’s remarks is that. even if the UFC pursues McGregor’s return as expected. it may need to look elsewhere for an opponent that the fighters and the promotion can align around without one party feeling used for narrative leverage.. Diaz’s stance also suggests he is still weighing his own timetable carefully. ready to fight only under terms that don’t reduce him to an early-step prop in someone else’s comeback.
Nate Diaz UFC return Conor McGregor MMA news Ariel Helwani combat sports
Nate always keeping it real no matter what
Honestly Diaz is right, don’t be somebody else’s plot.
wait so Nate got fired from the UFC?? I thought he just retired I didnt know they were still trying to use him like that. feels kinda shady honestly that they would just set him up like a stepping stone without even telling him thats basically what it was
I mean Conor hasnt fought since what 2020 right and hes already getting handed a comeback fight against a top guy like thats so unfair to every other fighter who actually been putting in work. the UFC always does this with the big money names and just ignores everyone else grinding on the lower cards. my cousin trains at a gym in Phoenix and he said the same thing happens at every level its all politics. Nate was smart to say no because honestly that fight wouldve only helped Conor and done nothing for Nate at this point in his career
didnt they already fight like three times already tho?? why would they do it again lol the first two were good but come on theres other fights to make and Conor needs to fight somebody new before they do a trilogy anyway. also Nate kind of lost both of those fights if I remember so why would he even want that
So UFC was trying to make Nate the “comeback story”?? That sounds like marketing to me. Conor’s been gone forever though, like why push it now.
I don’t even think they can do a rematch like that because of something with his contract or like the venue or whatever. Also Nate not fighting since 2022 but “active” is confusing, like is he retired or not? Either way, UFC will just pick some random guy and call it a comeback.
Diaz sounds salty but I get it. They really wanted him as the first opponent and the whole trilogy thing again?? If Conor comes back, shouldn’t he fight the best guy right away, not just whatever storyline they cooked up. I saw somewhere UFC already “offered” it, so Nate saying no comeback character makes sense. But then he’d consider a later rematch so… basically he wants Conor to do the work first? idk.