Some fresh Nate Diaz next fight news should be coming in the near future, however, his next scrap won’t be in the UFC Octagon. The Californian is the biggest free agent in combat sports and his next matchup could very well come in MMA, boxing, bare-knuckle boxing, or even grappling. We take a look at some of those possible opponent options.
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Who will Nate Diaz’s next fight be against?
At UFC 279, Diaz completed the final fight on his contract with his long-time employer and went out in style with a submission victory over former lightweight champion Tony Ferguson. The fight game is his oyster and he could show up anywhere next. That is why bouts in boxing against Jake Paul and Anderson Silva, or a jump to bare-knuckle boxing to battle Mike Perry make sense next.
- Problem Child: Paul and Diaz have circled each other for months and the former UFC star was even at his bout with fellow Octagon veteran Anderson Silva. There is no better time to make this matchup and would be a massive miss for both if it doesn’t happen early in 2023.
- The Spider: Silva could be an interesting secondary option if negotiations with the unbeaten Paul fall through. The matchup could happen in boxing or MMA, and there is a built-in history after the UFC legend fought Nate’s brother Nick seven years ago.
- Platinum: Bare-knuckle fighting has come a long way due to the success of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. The promotion has made it known they have an interest in Diaz and a scrap with fellow UFC alum, and character, Mike Perry could certainly generate a lot of interest from fight fans.
Nate Diaz vs Tony Ferguson recap
Nate Diaz against Tony Ferguson was a scrap fight fans have wanted for years and only got at UFC 279 as a last-minute booking change when Diaz’s first opponent, Khamzat Chimaev, horribly missed weight the day before the bout. While it wasn’t what fans thought they would get at the event, the two UFC greats delivered a fun and action-packed affair nonetheless.
What happened: Despite having advantages in the wrestling game, Ferguson chose to go toe-to-toe with Diaz on the feet and had some success. Especially with his kicks. However, in classic Diaz fashion, the boxing and output became too much to handle for “El Cucuy” by the fourth round of their main event clash.
The fallout: After wearing him down for four rounds, Diaz eventually landed a shot that rang the bell of his opponent. The 37-year-old poured on the pressure and Ferguson made the risky decision of going for a takedown. Diaz countered the move by locking in a guillotine with exactly 2:09 left in the round to give the man from the 209 the submission win.
The roadmap: Diaz is a free agent coming off a win and the offers from all over the combat sports spectrum will be coming in hot and heavy. The fight game is Diaz’s oyster right now.
What makes Nate Diaz so popular?
The Stockton Bad Boy: Diaz became a star in MMA by following the path that his talented and popular brother Nick established before him. That of being a trash-talking boxer, with unlimited cardio, and durability few others in a cage fight can match.
- Nate Diaz record: 21-13 (5 knockouts, 12 submissions)
- Although Diaz is known for his relentless striking style, his bread and butter have always been his black belt in Gracie jiu-jitsu. His grappling has earned him 11 submission wins, including his legendary rear naked choke victory over McGregor in 2016
- Despite competing in 33 fights and using a high-pressure style that relies heavily on his cement chin, Diaz has only been stopped by strikes twice in his career. And one of those was a 2019 doctor stoppage from a bad cut over his eye
- During his 15-year UFC tenure, the Californian has scored wins over former champions and title contenders like McGregor, Anthony Pettis, Gray Maynard, Donald Cerrone, and Takanori Gomi
The Mumbling Influencer: Diaz ascended to an elite level of popularity when he stunned the world as a short-notice replacement and handed Octagon superstar Conor McGregor his first UFC loss in 2016. Since then, he has become one of the biggest names in the industry.
- Diaz’s request to make his UFC 263 bout against Edwards a five-round fight was the first time the promotion ever did such a thing outside of the main event matchup
- His 2019 clash with fellow fan-favorite Jorge Masvidal was for the fictional “baddest mother f*cker” title and he even roped in Hollywood megastar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to present the belt inside Madison Square Garden
- The Stockton bad boy is in the early stages of starting his own MMA promotion, dubbed Real Fight Inc.
- Diaz is in rarefied air compared to other MMA fighters by having close to 10 million followers across his social media accounts
Nate Diaz’s net worth
The measure of a fighter’s success is the dollars and cents they stack up from a career of professional fisticuffs. Nate Diaz’s net worth is estimated to be around $5. million.