Nate Diaz has opened up about what he felt during his recent talks with the UFC.
A trilogy bout with Conor McGregor had gained traction in recent months, with both fighters hinting at a return to MMA.
However, that scenario will not materialise for now, with Diaz opting to sign with Most Valuable Promotions to face Mike Perry on May 16 instead.
Nate Diaz claims he felt UFC wanted him to fight Conor McGregor, but he wanted Charles Oliveira
On the This Past Weekend with Theo Von podcast, Diaz has revealed he believes the UFC were steering him towards a third fight with McGregor during recent discussions.
“I think that if I went back to the UFC, they want me to fight Conor McGregor, right now,” he revealed.
While casting doubts over McGregor’s level, the 40-year-old made it clear his priorities lie elsewhere at this stage of his career.
The Stockton native added: “I want to fight BMF m——— claiming my belt. That’s running all around. Charles Oliveira just won the fight, right? I’m like, right, you’re rocking my belt now and you’re running around like you’re the baddest m———. So that’s when I’m like, ‘Yo, what’s popping with the UFC?’ So I’m like, ‘Let’s link up and get this fight popping’.
“And then I go back to talk to them about it and they’re all ready for me to come back and fight Conor. I’m like, ‘Whoa, listen to what I’m talking about. I want to fight the best of the best when they are the best of the best’.
“Conor’s great, but I’m not trying to go kill off Connor when he’s on his last dying f—— leg.”
Charles Oliveira fuels BMF rivalry talk after bold proposal
After winning the BMF title at UFC 326, Charles Oliveira openly floated the idea of facing both Diaz and McGregor.
At the press conference, he even suggested a “BMF Grand Prix”, proposing fights against both men on the same night to settle the debate over the division’s toughest contender.
The comments have further intensified speculation around potential matchups, but Diaz is not in the cards anymore.
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