Nate Diaz has consistently voiced his opinions, and as he prepares for his upcoming bout against Mike Perry under the MVP banner, he explained his decision to turn down the chance to be Conor McGregor’s comeback opponent in the UFC.
During a media appearance, Diaz stated that the UFC intended to integrate him directly into their plans for McGregor’s long-awaited return. However, the matchup on those terms was not appealing to Diaz. Although he had been in discussions for a UFC return after leaving the roster in 2022, he ultimately opted to pursue boxing and fighting under his own banner instead of remaining with the company.
Nate Diaz’s Reasoning for Declining McGregor’s Return Fight
In the interview, Diaz clearly articulated his perspective, explaining that he did not wish to be used as the ‘B-side’ in a narrative designed to rehabilitate his old rival’s career. He stated:
“I know [the UFC] wanted the Conor fight right now… and 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 fucking showing people he’s whipping ass. Then that’s the guy I want. I don’t wanna be fighting a guy that they don’t know about, because I know he’s gonna come back and do good. I don’t need him to do it on me.”
These comments emerge amidst renewed speculation about McGregor’s return. UFC President Dana White has recently indicated that McGregor is expected to compete this summer, with potential appearances at International Fight Week in July or UFC 329 being discussed. McGregor has not competed since fracturing his leg in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. At 37, he is carefully planning his comeback after numerous delays and public exchanges regarding potential opponents.
In contrast, Diaz has remained active. Following his submission win over McGregor at UFC 196 and his loss in the rematch at UFC 202, he concluded his initial UFC tenure with a victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in September 2022 before exploring free agency. Since then, he has headlined a pay-per-view boxing match against Jake Paul in August 2023 and is now headlining the MVP MMA event against former BKFC champion Mike Perry, with the bout being streamed globally on Netflix. This has provided him with significant leverage and visibility outside the UFC’s promotional machine.
Considering these circumstances, Diaz’s refusal to serve as McGregor’s comeback opponent aligns with the long-standing dynamic between the two fighters. Diaz still desires a third fight, but only on terms where McGregor has already re-established himself against other opponents. This would ensure their trilogy feels like a clash between two active, victorious fighters, rather than a tune-up bout for a star returning from a layoff.
