Nate Diaz Advises Fighters to Follow His Lead and Embrace Free Agency

Nate Diaz holds no ill will towards the UFC, but he won't return without the right fights lined up. He advises other fighters to test the free-agent market, just as he did.

For months, rumors circulated that Diaz was a potential candidate for a third fight against Conor McGregor, after the two had been involved in two of the biggest bouts in UFC history. Ultimately, however, the fight didn't materialize. Diaz later explained that he turned down a lucrative offer from the UFC to face Mike Perry at an upcoming event because he had no interest in being part of McGregor's comeback story, who was competing for the first time in five years and after a broken leg.

Ultimately, Diaz accepted a substantial fee to fight Perry, and he is certainly pleased with that decision.

"I was just weighing my options and decided this was the best choice for now. He's the biggest name outside the UFC doing things I'm trying to do. This is what fighters should be doing, and we can set an example, as I've already tried. But it takes two to tango, and there aren't many like that. Not to mention, they combined it with Netflix, so it's a two-for-one."

During his final years in the UFC, Diaz endured long periods of inactivity before finally fulfilling his contract in 2022 with a submission victory over Tony Ferguson. This made him a free agent for the first time since joining The Ultimate Fighter reality show in 2007 and subsequently signing his initial UFC contract. Diaz claims he has no issues with the UFC and appreciates that the organization recently reached out to him again, hoping to bring him back to his most familiar home in the sport.

However, a return to the UFC would undoubtedly involve signing a new multi-fight contract, and Diaz finds it hard to forget how long it took him to become a free agent under his previous deal.

Diaz wouldn't be opposed to a UFC return – even if it means signing a new long-term deal – as long as the right opportunities are presented to him.

"I don't want to just hang around the UFC, playing games and wasting anyone's time. Either people need to take action and go out on their own, do things, and organize their own fights. There's no one inside who generates that much interest right now. But you know the UFC, they pop up out of nowhere."

"It would be great if there were a lot more free agents doing their own thing," Diaz stated. "But I think that will come with time and with learning. I think people need to speed up the process, hit the gas, and take control of their careers and their affairs, and understand what's really happening here."