After spending over two years away from the UFC to explore other ventures, MMA icon Nate Diaz appears poised to reignite his UFC ambitions. Stockton’s favorite son recently stated: “Well, everybody is boring right now. So I’m trying to do other s–t for the moment, but I want to go back and get a UFC title. You know, I don’t want to fight for nothing, I want to fight for something.” Diaz’s foray into boxing didn’t go as planned, notably falling short against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. But can we someone witness the return of the same old flair inside the Octagon again?
UFC legend Michael Bisping believes there’s a significant obstacle in that path and it is rooted in his decision to pursue boxing in the first place. Reflecting on Diaz’s initial rise following his victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 196, Bisping commented on his YouTube podcast: “Ever since he beat Conor McGregor, he went into another level of superstar and his paychecks are gigantic. I don’t know what they are, but I do know he gets paid very handsomely.”
Before McGregor’s meteoric rise to stardom, Diaz remained somewhat in the shadows and was even cited as someone who wasn’t a “needle mover.” These words came directly from Dana White! That changed dramatically when seized the opportunity to face the Irishman — and defeated him. This victory catapulted Diaz to new heights of fame, transforming him into one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports.
‘The Count’ then focused on how Diaz’s bout with Jake Paul diminished that stardom. “Because he rolled the dice by boxing Jake Paul and he lost to Jake Paul, I really feel that would have massively, and maybe I’m wrong, that has damaged his negotiation power,” Michael Bisping added. “You go out there, you get beat by Jake Paul… when you got beat fair and square, got dropped, you’re not gonna come back and command multi-million-dollar paychecks from the UFC when your stock got hurt so badly.”
However, Diaz departed from the UFC in 2022 with significant momentum, having secured a victory in his final fight inside the Octagon. As one of the biggest names in MMA, Diaz’s exit wasn’t driven by a decline in relevance or skill. However, as mentioned before, Diaz’s decision to venture into boxing may have worked against him. In his boxing debut against Jake Paul, Diaz showed remarkable durability by lasting the full 10 rounds, showcasing the signature cardio he’s long been known for. Despite this, his performance did little to enhance his standing.
The Stockton native was dropped in the fifth round, and Paul ultimately claimed a convincing decision victory. While Diaz avoided being knocked out, Bisping believes the loss diminished his “stock” in the eyes of UFC CEO Dana White, with whom Diaz has shared a complicated relationship over the years.
Given these circumstances, Diaz’s pursuit of a UFC title fight at 170lbs could face significant obstacles. Convincing White to grant him such an opportunity may prove challenging, especially after a performance that, while gutsy, failed to deliver a compelling case for his championship aspirations.
Boxing: Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz Aug 5, 2023 Dallas, Texas, USA Jake Paul left fights against Nate Diaz in a boxing match at American Airlines Center. Dallas American Airlines Center Texas USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKevinxJairajx 20230805_krj_aj6_0034
Michael Bisping may have raised a pretty good argument about the problems Nate Diaz could face in plans to make in back to the UFC, but Dana White has already made his stance clear on this situation over a year ago. Guess what? It’s good news for Diaz.
Dana White previously claimed the UFC doors are open to Nate Diaz
Prior to his fight against Conor McGregor, Dana White was once heard saying Nate Diaz wasn’t a “needle mover.” With that said, the relationship between him and the Stockton native wasn’t always on cordial terms. Before departing from the Las Vegas-based promotion, the 39-year-old sounded his displeasure with the lack of exciting matchups as well. However, the 55-year-old CEO changed his tune after the noise Diaz made with his only boxing match, even though he lost the battle.
Dana White claimed that Nate Diaz can always get back to the UFC, pretty much like his brother, Nick Diaz, was scheduled to make his comeback recently. “We feel the same way about Nate, you know. Always have,” the UFC CEO stated during a Contender Series presser in 2023. “This will always be Nate’s house. Nate grew up here, came in on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ [and] he fought some of the biggest fights. We love the kid.”
Dana White not only assured that he’ll surely entertain a comeback but also praised Nate Diaz on his boxing debut. So far, it looks like things are in the Stockton native’s favor. But what do you think? Let us know in the comments down below.
The post Nate Diaz ‘Damaged’ His ‘Negotiating Power’ To Convince Dana White & Co. for a UFC Return After Losing to Jake Paul appeared first on EssentiallySports.
