A UFC legend who once handed Conor McGregor his first Octagon loss has reignited speculation about a potential return to the promotion. Known for his unorthodox style, iron chin, and lethal submission game, this fighter carved his name into MMA history with iconic wins over the likes of Tony Ferguson and McGregor himself.
After choosing free agency in 2022 following a storied UFC career, he’s since dabbled in boxing—but now, the fan favorite is teasing a comeback. Could the Octagon’s “Original Gangster” be plotting one final run at gold?
Nate Diaz’s UFC ultimatum: ‘I want a title shot or nothing’
Nate Diaz, the Stockton brawler who famously choked out Conor McGregor in 2016, isn’t done with MMA—he’s just waiting for a reason to care. In a recent interview with Full Violence, Diaz, puffing on a joint, didn’t mince words about his UFC ambitions:
“I want to go back and get a UFC title. I don’t want to fight for nothing, you know? I want to fight for something.”
Since leaving the promotion in 2022 after submitting Tony Ferguson, Diaz has flirted with boxing, trading losses and wins with Jake Paul and Jorge Masvidal. But the allure of unfinished business in the Octagon lingers.
“Right now, there’s nobody out there that’s at… who’s the champion right now?” Diaz mused, dismissing the current roster as “boring” and lacking “buzz.”
His critique cuts deep. Despite name-dropping marquee fighters like Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya as potential foes, Diaz insists the UFC’s welterweight division—his old stomping ground—is devoid of compelling challengers.
“There’s nobody to fight, everybody is wack… Every single body in boxing and MMA.”
For Diaz, it’s about legacy, not paychecks. The 39-year-old has long been a cult hero, celebrated for his gritty brawls and unfiltered persona. Yet a UFC title has eluded him. Now, he’s demanding a shot at gold or nothing at all.
“It’s about who’s poppin’ and who’s doing something,” he stressed. “Right now, there’s nobody doing s— in the UFC.”
Fans are split. Some argue Diaz’s star power alone justifies a title shot, while others question his relevance after a two-year MMA hiatus. Still, his return would inject chaos into a welterweight division currently led by Leon Edwards—a fighter Diaz has never faced.
Whether the UFC bites remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: Nate Diaz won’t step back into the cage for anything less than a chance to make history. As he put it: “I’m watching. I’m hoping for something…”