Nate Diaz Explains Decision to Decline Conor McGregor Trilogy Bout
Nate Diaz has publicly detailed his reasons for turning down a lucrative UFC offer to face long-time rival Conor McGregor in a highly anticipated trilogy fight. Instead, the veteran fighter has opted to compete on Jake Paul's mixed martial arts promotion, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), where he will battle fellow seasoned competitor Mike Perry on 16 May.
Diaz's UFC Departure and New Direction
Diaz has not appeared in the UFC octagon since his submission victory over Tony Ferguson in 2022. His upcoming bout against Perry marks a significant shift, as he joins a rival promotion despite receiving a formal proposal from UFC president Dana White for a third showdown with McGregor. The pair's storied history includes Diaz's stunning rear-naked choke submission win over McGregor in 2016, followed by a closely contested decision loss in their rematch later that year.
Diaz expressed little interest in facing McGregor, who has been inactive since consecutive defeats to Dustin Poirier in 2021. Instead, Diaz revealed his primary target was newly crowned "Baddest Motherf***er" champion Charles Oliveira, a title Diaz himself originated during his UFC tenure. "I believe they wanted me to come back and fight Conor McGregor, not Oliveira," Diaz stated. "I'm going to fight for my belt that I created. I started this whole thing. That's my belt you're wearing around your hips."
Financial and Competitive Motivations
The financial aspect played a crucial role in Diaz's decision. He noted that the offer to fight Perry on the MVP card was nearly equivalent to what the UFC proposed for the McGregor bout. Diaz emphasized his enthusiasm for facing Perry, whom he described as "the most violent motherf***er around right now," highlighting Perry's entrepreneurial ventures and promotion-running activities.
"I'm a lot more enthusiastic to get up and run and get ready to train for this motherf***er who's going to knock me out or I'm going to knock his a** out," Diaz explained. "Who's the biggest dog or who's the best motherf***er there is?" This statement underscores Diaz's preference for high-stakes, competitive matchups over potentially legacy-driven but less compelling contests.
Post-UFC Career and Future Ambitions
Since leaving the UFC, Diaz has remained active in combat sports, participating in high-profile boxing matches. He faced Jake Paul in a boxing bout, suffering a defeat, and later avenged a doctor stoppage loss to Jorge Masvidal in a cage rematch. Despite now fighting under Paul's MVP banner, Diaz insists he is not employed by the promotion or by "The Problem Child" himself.
"In the meantime, I'm not fighting for MVP. I'm fighting for Netflix and I'm fighting from Real Fight Incorporated," Diaz clarified. He suggested this arrangement might lead to future Netflix broadcasts, aiming to demonstrate how to produce authentic MMA events. "I've been in the UFC for 20 years now, so I'm going to do that. I'm not working for MVP like all these motherf***ers are. I'm a UFC fighter, I'm working for me, and I'm hunting Jake Paul's motherf***ing a**."
This declaration signals Diaz's ongoing pursuit of a rematch with Paul, blending personal vendetta with professional ambition as he navigates the evolving landscape of mixed martial arts promotions.
