Nate Diaz confirmed the UFC wanted him to fight Conor McGregor in a trilogy bout before he decided to fight Mike Perry on Netflix instead.
What Led to the Decision?
Diaz returns this Saturday when he takes on Perry in a five-round welterweight bout on the MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano card.
The UFC had been in talks with Diaz before he signed a one-fight contract for MVP MMA, a deal that UFC president Dana White encouraged Diaz to take due to the significant money involved.
The Conor McGregor Factor
Nate Diaz spoke to Ariel Helwani in a recent interview ahead of the Perry fight, confirming that the UFC wanted him to fight McGregor in a trilogy bout, following their two fights in 2016.
Diaz pulled off a massive upset at UFC 196 with a second-round submission win, before McGregor got revenge with a majority decision win at UFC 202.
Why Nate Diaz Passed on the Fight
Diaz believes now is not the right time to fight McGregor, who is making his own comeback to the UFC after five years away from the promotion, with rumors suggesting he will take on Max Holloway in a rematch at UFC 329 in July.
“I’m like, I’m not trying to be a comeback story for Conor, I want Conor back, and then I want him to be showing people he’s whipping ass,” Diaz said.
Alternative Fights
Instead of McGregor, Diaz said he wanted to fight UFC BMF champion Charles Oliveira, but the UFC was not interested in booking that fight.
Diaz will now face Perry in MVP MMA, having chosen this path over a potential trilogy with McGregor.
And Diaz is focused on his upcoming fight, looking to make a statement before considering his next move.
But for now, the trilogy with McGregor will have to wait, as Diaz pursues other opportunities.
So the question remains, what's next for Nate Diaz after his fight against Mike Perry.