One of the UFC’s biggest stars, Nate Diaz, ended his long career with the company on Saturday night in Las Vegas, after earning a submission victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279.
Diaz was initially scheduled to fight rising star Khamzat Chimaev but failed to make weight on Friday. Chimaev was a heavy favorite to beat Diaz, who had one fight left on his UFC contract.
After the weight mishap, the UFC was forced to rearrange several fights on the card and ended a fight between Diaz and Ferguson.
Diaz, who spent the last 15 years with the UFC, is now looking to pursue other lucrative options, with boxing his likely destination.
And the biggest fight for him is a matchup with YouTube star turned boxer Jake Paul (5-0, 4 KOs).
Paul is scheduled to return to the ring next month, when he takes on another UFC legend, Anderson Silva, who some punters have listed as the favorite in that contest.
Paul already has stoppage wins over two former UFC fighters, Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley.
Diaz had pursued a fight with Paul in the past, but his contract with the UFC prevented him from going down that path.
Now the charismatic fighter is free to pursue opportunities outside of the UFC.
“All I know has been a love-hate relationship with me and the UFC the entire time I’ve been in this organization, but at the end of the day, I love the UFC. Thanks to Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Hunter Campbell for giving me the opportunities and the platform all the time, for everyone and for me,” Diaz said.
“I want to get out of the UFC for a minute and show all these UFC fighters how to take control and own another sport, how you’re supposed to do it. Because Conor McGregor didn’t know how to do it [when he boxed Floyd Mayweather in 2017]. None of these other fighters know how to do it. So I’m going to go out and take another profession and become the best at it. Show everyone that I’m the best at it and then I’m going to be right back here to get a UFC title. The best title in the world.”
