Nate Diaz ‘did too much to get out’ of UFC to just go back without proper incentive, advises fighters to test free agency like he did

VENICE, CALIFORNIA - MAY 13: Nate Diaz participates in training during the Open Workout for Netflix's Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano at Venice Beach on May 13, 2026 in Venice, California. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix) | Getty Images for Netflix Nate Diaz remains one of the biggest names in combat sports so when he was pursuing his next fight, there were obviously plenty of interested parties including his old employers at the UFC.

Rumors swirled for months that Diaz was potentially in line for a trilogy against Conor McGregor after they engaged in two of the biggest fights in UFC history but ultimately the matchup didn’t come together. Diaz later explained that he passed on a lucrative offer from the UFC to instead face Mike Perry on the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card because he wasn’t interested in being part of McGregor’s “comeback motherf*cking story” as he competes for the first time in five years and coming off a broken leg.

In the end, Diaz took a healthy paycheck to face Perry and he’s definitely satisfied with that decision. “I was just weighing out my options and I thought it was the best option for the time, for the moment,” Diaz told MMA Fighting. “He’s the biggest name outside the UFC doing things, like how I’m trying to do.

“That’s what fighters should be doing and we can set an example like I was already trying to do but it takes two to tango and there’s not much out there. Not to mention, they got the Netflix combined with it so that’s a two-for-one. ” During his final few years in the UFC, Diaz dealt with long periods of inactivity before he finally fought out his contract in 2022 with a submission win over Tony Ferguson.