Nate Diaz is gearing up for his long-awaited UFC return.
Diaz (21-13 MMA, 16-11 UFC) amicably parted ways with the UFC after submitting Tony Ferguson in September 2022. He has since laced up the gloves against Jake Paul and fellow ex-UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal, but is now finally ready to step back into the octagon.
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The Stockton superstar is not short of options for big fights, but three particular names pique his interest.
“I’m ready to get back in real action,” Diaz told TMZ Sports. “I want to fight either (Conor) McGregor 3, I want to fight maybe Dustin Poirier if he stops being such a p*ssy, and then maybe Mike Perry. Let’s see what happens in the future though.”
Diaz has unfinished business with Conor McGregor after the pair split their two appearances. Diaz scored a stunning upset submission at UFC 196 in March 2016, but McGregor was able to avenge his loss by majority decision in their rematch at UFC 202. McGregor hasn’t been seen in the octagon for even longer than Diaz after breaking his leg in July 2021.
“The Notorious” set his sights on the UFC’s White House event in June, and so has Diaz.
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“Yeah, that would be dope, too,” Diaz said of the White House event. “America gang, baby. You already know we’re popping.”
The other two names Diaz wants may not be as easy to materialize with neither currently on the UFC roster. Dustin Poirier hung up his gloves at UFC 318, but did hint that he could be lured out of retirement for the right fight. Diaz could just be that as they were once scheduled to meet at UFC 230, but the fight fell through when Poirier injured his hip.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Nate Diaz ready for ‘real action,’ wants in on UFC White House event
