Nate Diaz has made it clear—he’s open to a UFC comeback, but only if he gets a shot at gold. Speaking on the “Full Violence” YouTube channel, the Stockton-born fighter stated that he has no interest in fighting just for the sake of it. His one demand? A title fight.
Nate Diaz Wants a Title Shot or Nothing
“The legacy? I don’t think about it as done,” Diaz said. “I think it’s underrated. I think I left more of an impact than anybody has, really. I mean, Conor [McGregor] has in a way, and then you get like, my brother did, but all that (expletive) gets forgotten about too.” Diaz said. “I think it’s underrated. I think I left more of an impact than anybody has, really. I mean, Conor [McGregor] has in a way, and then you get like, my brother did, but all that (expletive) gets forgotten about too.”
Diaz (21-13 MMA, 16-11 UFC) walked away from the promotion in 2022 after submitting Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Since then, he has pursued boxing, suffering a loss to Jake Paul in August 2023 before bouncing back with a majority decision win over Jorge Masvidal in July 2024.
Despite his ventures outside the octagon, Diaz remains unimpressed with the UFC’s current landscape.
“Everybody’s boring right now,” he said. “There’s no buzz, nobody’s doing (expletive). There’s nobody to fight, everybody is wack.” he said. “There’s no buzz, nobody’s doing (expletive). There’s nobody to fight, everybody is wack.”
Unfinished Business in the UFC
Diaz’s impact on MMA is undeniable. Ever since winning Season 5 of The Ultimate Fighter, he and his brother Nick have cultivated a massive fan following. Their unapologetic personas and high-action fighting styles made them some of the biggest draws in the sport. However, Diaz feels his legacy won’t be complete without a championship belt.
“If I come back, I want something big,” Diaz emphasized. “I’m not here to waste time. I want a UFC title.” Diaz emphasized. “I’m not here to waste time. I want a UFC title.”
While Diaz has expressed a desire to compete at welterweight, he admits there’s no particular opponent that excites him at the moment. “That’s why I’m not in there right now,” he said. “I’m watching. I’m hoping for something.” he said. “I’m watching. I’m hoping for something.”
With the UFC’s roster lacking a breakout superstar, a Diaz return could inject some much-needed excitement into the promotion. Whether Dana White and the UFC brass meet his demands remains to be seen, but if Diaz gets the fight he wants, expect fireworks inside the cage.
