Ahead of his fight against Mike Perry on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano MVP Netflix card, Nate Diaz sat down with veteran journalist Ariel Helwani for an in-depth interview and revealed his behind-the-scenes talks with the UFC brass since his retirement, how he believes the UFC was gearing up to book a fight between him and Conor McGregor, and his thoughts on the promotion’s current cream of the crop.
Helwani asked Diaz if he considered going back to the UFC after leaving the promotion, to which Diaz replied, “A hundred percent I did [consider going back to the UFC].”
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Nate DiazRonald Martinez-GettyImages
As to how close he was to signing with the promotion, Diaz said, “I was pretty close because they’ve always been great since I left, too. They talked to me and met up with me… wheels were spinning just for an MMA fight, an MMA return, and get back to what I do.”
What stopped him from signing, however, was his inkling that the promotion wanted to pit him against his most famous rival.
Conor McGregor Trilogy
“I know that they wanted the Conor [McGregor] fight right now, and that’s not what I was [wanting],” he told Helwani.
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Though the UFC brass didn’t tell him explicitly that they wanted a fight, Diaz believes, “They were insinuating. They didn’t offer it, but I think that’s what they wanted.”
Nate Diaz (R) fights Conor McGregor (L)Jeff Bottari Getty Images
Whether or not the UFC matchmakers actually did want the trilogy fight immediately, it is definitely within the realm of possibility, and would be a positive decision for their business given how popular the Diaz and McGregor rivalry was during its heyday.
Diaz, however, was adamant that he wants his legacy to be separate from McGregor’s.
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“I’m not trying to be a comeback story for Conor,” he stated bluntly. “I want Conor back, and then I want him to be f—ing showing people he’s whooping a—.”
Diaz also stated frankly, “I don’t want to be fighting a guy they don’t know about. Because I know [Conor] is gonna come back and do good. I don’t want him to do it on me.”
Life Outside the UFC
Helwani pivoted their conversation and asked why Diaz considered coming back to the UFC, given his open disdain for the promotion’s contracts.
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Jake Paul(L) and Nate Diaz(R)Sam Hodde/Getty Images
Diaz answered, “When I got out, and I did boxing with Jake [Paul], and did boxing with Jorge [Masvidal], there were no dance partners out here. There’s no one to f— squabble with on the outside.”
“That’s why we got Perry now,” he said, referencing his upcoming fight this Saturday, May 16.
Nate Diaz and Mike Perry face off at Rousey vs. Carano Press Conference Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Diaz also mentioned that he would rather fight as much as he can before a potential return to the UFC.
“Well f—, before I go to the UFC, if I’m going to go back… because once I get locked in, I’m going to be locked in for the next, forever,” he said, expressing his frustration over the UFC’s strict contracts. “You ain’t getting out of those contracts, I’ve already been in them.”
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For Diaz, the problem about his situation is that the best MMA talent goes to the UFC, and he wants to urge the most talented fighters to go explore other options.
“I’m like ‘Come on, get out [of the UFC]’ so we could dance, but nobody’s doing it,” he said. “I would like to fight the best fighters in the world, and they’re in the UFC right now.”
Return to the UFC?
If he were to come back to the UFC, Diaz said his most desired fight is against the man who currently holds the UFC “BMF” belt.
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“Right now, Oliveira. That’s who I wanted, that’s where I’m like ‘Ok I’m going to go back and get that [BMF] belt, I’m gonna fight this motherf—,’” he said, speaking of his desire to come back.
“They’re not interested in that, they want to give me Conor,” he said of his negotiations with the UFC. “I want to fight Conor, but right now is not the time.”
When asked if the trilogy fight would be bigger within the UFC or outside of it, given the current MMA landscape, Diaz refused to mince words and give promoters the leverage.
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“It’s bigger wherever the f— it’s at,” he said, blunt in hand. “Whatever happens, by any means, the plan is to fight him.”
Watch the full interview here:
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
