Nate Diaz blasted Francis Ngannou for complaining about UFC pay, saying he was slacking on speaking out sooner.
## What happened?
Diaz and Ngannou are set to fight on the same card for Netflix's first MMA event, with Diaz facing Mike Perry and Ngannou taking on Philipe Lins.
The two fighters have been vocal about their issues with the UFC, particularly regarding pay.
## Why it matters for Nate Diaz
In a 2021 interview with Kevin Iole for Yahoo Sports, Diaz responded to Ngannou's question about what fighters were doing wrong to deserve more pay.
Diaz stated he had been speaking out about pay issues for years, even when he wasn't a champion.
He claimed his stock rose despite not being a champion, and other fighters should have followed his lead.
## What comes next?
Ngannou has since become a vocal critic of the UFC's treatment of fighters, and both he and Diaz are expected to earn higher paychecks outside of the UFC.
The Cameroonian has fulfilled his boxing ambitions since leaving the UFC.
Diaz and Ngannou will share the card with Ronda Rousey, who makes her comeback against Gina Carano.
Ngannou praised Diaz for describing the MVP MMA event as a lineup filled with 'free fighters'.
Diaz fought out his contract in the UFC with a submission victory over Tony Ferguson.
Ngannou's UFC exit was confirmed in January 2023 after a lengthy contractual dispute.
He began questioning fighter pay years earlier, including after his title win in 2021.
Logan Paul collected $20 million against Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition boxing match, prompting Ngannou's questions.
Diaz has been critical of the UFC's pay structure, and his comments have sparked debate among fighters.
The upcoming Netflix event will feature several former UFC stars, including Rousey and Diaz.
Ngannou's fight against Philipe Lins will be his first since 2024, with a significant size advantage.