Nate Diaz is plotting his return to the UFC, however solely when there’s a reputation that pursuits him sufficient to really return to his previous stomping grounds.
The one-time light-weight title challenger hasn’t fought within the UFC since a submission win ove Tony Ferguson again in 2022, which served as the ultimate bout on his contract. Whereas UFC CEO Dana White all the time left the door open for Diaz to return, he’s largely been targeted on endeavors exterior the cage together with boxing matches towards Jake Paul and Jorge Masvidal.
However simply because he’s not there doesn’t imply Diaz isn’t protecting a detailed eye on the UFC. Nevertheless, he claims there’s nothing fascinating sufficient to attract him again proper now.
“It’s about buzz and who’s popping and who’s doing one thing,” Diaz advised Full Violence throughout a photoshoot. “Proper now, there’s no person doing shit within the UFC.”
With out naming names, Diaz took direct purpose on the welterweight division, which is the place he spent a part of his UFC profession after additionally competing at 155 kilos.
In one among his remaining fights underneath the promotion’s banner, Diaz misplaced a unanimous choice to Leon Edwards, however practically scored a late end after hurting the long run welterweight champion within the fifth and remaining spherical. Edwards catapulted off that win to later seize a UFC title, however following two defenses, he dropped the belt to present champion Belal Muhammad.
Throughout the dialog, Diaz couldn’t really determine who was holding the title, which spoke to his bigger criticism of an absence of star energy within the UFC.
“Everyone’s boring proper now so I’m making an attempt to do different shit for the second,” Diaz mentioned. “However I need to return and get a UFC title. I don’t need to battle for nothing. I need to battle for one thing. Proper now there’s not anyone that’s that [entertaining].
“Who’s the champion proper now at 170? See precisely, that’s what I’m saying. Why would I’m going again to the UFC proper now to battle who? I’m the champion so far as that’s involved.”
Muhammad would definitely have one thing to say about that, however Diaz maintains the game is missing fascinating fights to lure him again to the UFC.
“No one, that’s why I’m not in there proper now,” Diaz mentioned. “I’m watching, I’m hoping for one thing. There’s no buzz, no person’s doing shit, there’s no person to battle, everyone’s whack. Each-single-body, boxing and MMA.”
That mentioned, the 39-year-old veteran isn’t giving up hope that one thing finally catches his consideration sufficient to return to the UFC.
He didn’t set a timetable on when which may occur, however Diaz guarantees he’s not going wherever as a result of there’s all the time extra to show within the battle sport.
“I don’t give it some thought as executed,” Diaz mentioned about his legacy. “I believe it’s underrated and I believe I left extra of an influence than anyone has actually. I believe Conor [McGregor] has in a approach after which what my brother [Nick Diaz] did. ‘GSP’ (Georges St-Pierre) however that shit all will get forgotten about, too.
“It may well’t go away since you ain’t getting credit score to start with anyway so might as properly preserve that shit going eternally. That’s why I plan on combating eternally.”
