Getty Nate Diaz attends Shaq’s Fun House presented by FTX at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
UFC superstar Nate Diaz wants to fight in the Octagon as soon as possible, and if he doesn’t get one, he wants the promotion to release him from his contract.
Diaz only has one fight left on his UFC deal and he’s been actively campaigning for months to compete. He’s made it clear that he plans on testing free agency and he’ll likely receive several offers from both MMA and boxing promoters.
Diaz last fought in June 2021 at UFC 263 when he was bested by Leon Edwards during a five-round welterweight scrap. Edwards won via unanimous decision.
Since then, Diaz has called out the likes of Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Vicente Luque. But, Diaz has yet to be booked to fight anyone and he’s become increasingly frustrated.
And apparently, Diaz has had enough. Taking to Twitter, Diaz tagged UFC president Dana White, as well as mentioning the promotion’s chief business officer, Hunter Campbell. He requested for his release from the UFC, and if they won’t do it, then he wants “a fight asap.”
“I Would like to request to be released from the @ufc @danawhite @hunter,” Diaz tweeted. “I apologize for asking online but u don’t give me a fight asap I got shit to do.”
I Would like to request to be released from the @ufc @danawhite @hunter
I apologize for asking online but u don’t give me a fight asap I got shit to do
🏝 🤼♀️ 🥊 👊🏼 🏃♂️
Diaz is unquestionably one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts, and the UFC likely doesn’t want to see the fighter leave for another promotion.
Diaz Wants to Fight on the Bellator Card in Hawaii Next Month
On April 23, Bellator MMA will head to Hawaii for the 273 numbered event. And on the card, UFC veteran Yancy Medeiros will compete against Emmanuel Sanchez, according to MMA Junkie.
Last week, Diaz tweeted that he wants to compete on the same card, further showing his frustration with the UFC. “I m tryin get on this @BellatorMMAcard in April wit my boy @ymedeiros in Hawaii. Wasup wit @BellatorMMA.”
I m tryin get on this @BellatorMMA card in April wit my boy @ymedeiros in Hawaii
Wasup wit @BellatorMMA 😎
Dana White Said He’d Be ‘Shocked’ If Fans Didn’t See Conor McGregor vs. Diaz 3
The UFC president wants to see Diaz take on McGregor in a trilogy match. The two fought in 2016, at UFC 196 and UFC 202 as welterweights. In their first match, Diaz submitted “Notorious” with a rear-naked choke in the second round. A few months later, the two rematched and McGregor edged the scorecards, besting Diaz via majority decision.
Fast forward over five years and Diaz and McGregor have yet to settle the score. And in a recent interview with TMZ, White assured fans that he’d be “shocked” if the two didn’t lock horns inside the Octagon again.
“We’re still working on [Diaz vs. Poirier], that fight’s not done yet,” White said via MMA Fighting. “But yeah, I wouldn’t count out Conor-Nate 3.”
“I’d be shocked if that fight didn’t happen again,” he continued.
Diaz has fought a total of three times since his last encounter with McGregor, which includes a unanimous decision win over Anthony Pettis, and two back-to-back defeats to Jorge Masvidal and Leon Edwards. He lost to Masvidal by doctor’s stoppage and as mentioned earlier, Diaz was beaten by Edwards via decision.