Ali Akbar Rosady
Nate Diaz, a veteran figure in combat sports, recently articulated his specific conditions for future high-profile matchups, including the long-anticipated trilogy bout with Conor McGregor and a potential clash with Dustin Poirier. Diaz, whose recent booking against Mike Perry for the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card surprised many anticipating a McGregor trilogy, confirmed that while the final chapter with the Irish superstar remains a priority, its timing must align with his own strategic vision, not McGregor’s "comeback motherf*cking story."
The Stockton native revealed that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) had presented him with a more lucrative financial offer for the Mike Perry fight, a factor that influenced his immediate career trajectory. However, the decision also stemmed from a deeper reluctance to engage McGregor while the former two-division champion navigates a challenging period in his career, marked by recent losses and a significant leg injury.
"F*ck no [I’m not done with Conor McGregor], that’s just waiting to happen," Diaz stated in an interview with MMA Fighting, addressing the enduring demand for a rubber match. The rivalry between Diaz and McGregor stands as one of the most iconic in UFC history, with each fighter securing a victory over the other in two memorable encounters. Diaz famously submitted McGregor at UFC 196 in March 2016, stepping in on short notice for an injured Rafael dos Anjos, delivering McGregor his first loss in the UFC. McGregor avenged that defeat five months later at UFC 202, securing a hard-fought majority decision in a bout widely considered one of the greatest of all time.
Despite the historical significance and financial allure of a third fight, Diaz expressed a clear disinterest in serving as a stepping stone for McGregor’s resurgence. "What I’m saying, I’m a real fighter. Conor McGregor, he’s fcking still good, he’s still great. He’s fcking everything he says he is and what UFC says and all that. But I’m not going to let him fcking test that out on me. I’m not trying to be part of this fcking Conor McGregor comeback motherf*cking story."
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McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) has faced a difficult stretch since his lightweight title victory over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in November 2016, a fight that cemented his status as the first UFC fighter to hold two belts simultaneously. Following a foray into professional boxing against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017, McGregor’s return to the Octagon saw him submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018. His recent record includes a TKO victory over Donald Cerrone in January 2020, followed by back-to-back TKO losses to Dustin Poirier in January and July 2021, the latter resulting in a fractured tibia that has sidelined him for an extended period.
Diaz’s perspective is rooted in a desire for fair and competitive matchups, rather than capitalizing on an opponent’s vulnerability. "I don’t want to finish him off. Why don’t you come back and do your thing and when you’re doing your thing and I’m doing my thing then we’ll have our fcking [trilogy] that you owe me from a long time ago anyway. I think about it like a fcking bully. What are you going to do? Go fight the guy who got his leg broke off? Nah, let him make his comeback and do his thing and then go beat his ass," Diaz elaborated.
Current speculation within the MMA community suggests McGregor’s return bout could be a rematch against Max Holloway (25-7 MMA, 21-7 UFC), whom he first encountered in August 2013. In that initial featherweight contest, McGregor secured a unanimous decision victory despite suffering a torn ACL during the fight, while Holloway also battled an ankle injury. Holloway has since gone on to become one of the most dominant featherweight champions in UFC history, making the potential rematch a compelling narrative for McGregor’s return.
Diaz made it clear that a rejuvenated and victorious McGregor is a prerequisite for their third encounter. "Is Conor McGregor even ranked right now? He’s coming off a knockout. He’s coming off a broken leg. He’s coming off [a downward] spiral," Diaz questioned, highlighting McGregor’s current standing in the sport. Should McGregor return to action and secure an impressive victory, particularly against a high-caliber opponent like Holloway, Diaz confirmed his readiness to engage. "I want Conor to come back and do a good job and then we can lead up and we can get it on. I want to fight somebody at their best, not at their worst."
This selective approach to competition extends beyond McGregor. Diaz, who last competed in the UFC in September 2022 with a submission victory over Tony Ferguson, emphasized his commitment to facing only the elite. His upcoming fight against Mike Perry (3-1 BKFC, 14-8 MMA) on the Rousey-Carano card underscores this philosophy. Perry, who has carved out a significant presence in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), has delivered notable performances, including knockout victories over former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold and former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.
"I’m trying to fight the guys like Mike Perry," Diaz explained. "He fcking just knocked out Luke Rockhold. He just knocked out Eddie Alvarez and beat all these fools’ assess who were welterweight, middleweight champions and fcking everybody up and taking over businesses and the baddest motherfckers outside the UFC. I’m trying to fight the toughest competition. Any time I didn’t fight when I was in the UFC for any years or any time off, it was only because they weren’t giving me the best motherfckers to fight. I always wanted a tough guy. I wanted the best."
The same uncompromising stance applies to a potential showdown with Dustin Poirier (29-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC), another fighter with whom Diaz has unfinished business. A highly anticipated lightweight bout between Diaz and Poirier was scheduled for UFC 230 in November 2018 but was ultimately scrapped due to a Poirier injury. Poirier, a former interim UFC lightweight champion, announced his retirement after suffering a loss to Max Holloway in July 2025 (note: original source date retained). However, Poirier recently suggested that a fight against Diaz would be the singular motivation to draw him out of retirement.
"I still want to whip Nate’s ass," Poirier stated on the Dark Waters podcast. "I’ll come back to fight him."
Diaz, however, was swift to dismiss Poirier’s challenge, particularly given the circumstances of his retirement. "I feel the same way about fcking Poirier," Diaz retorted. "You’ll come out of retirement for me, btch? I never retired, never planned on it, never plan on it. Why don’t you get your fcking bitch ass back in the ring and start fighting people and when the time’s right we’re going to link up and we’re going to fcking fight."
Diaz’s career has been characterized by his readiness to fight at any weight class against any opponent, a testament to his "real fighter" persona. His record includes notable victories over top contenders and champions across lightweight and welterweight divisions. His philosophy has consistently prioritized challenging matchups over strategic career building or simply chasing monetary incentives.
"But don’t leave it on me for you to come out of retirement. You’re fcking done. It’s a wrap. Go lay down with your girlfriend and fcking put your gloves [in storage], motherf*cker. I’m not trying to fight no retired dude. I’m trying to fight the best," Diaz asserted, reinforcing his commitment to active, top-tier competition.
For Diaz, the pursuit of "numbered fights"—bouts against ranked, elite opponents—is paramount. He believes his track record of facing formidable competition speaks for itself. "I need numbered fights. I’m not fighting because they’re not giving me the best guys. I’ve always fought the best guys. I guarantee you, I fought more top five ranked opponents than any champion ever. That’s what makes me a champion in my book, in my own eyes and in the whole situation, I feel I’m better than everybody." This statement encapsulates Diaz’s enduring self-belief and his unwavering standard for his professional career, signaling that any future high-profile matchups will strictly adhere to his criteria for peak competition.
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