Nate Diaz appears to snub Conor McGregor and Jake Paul fights as UFC legend hints at next destination
NATE DIAZ has seemingly revealed where he plans to fight next – and it’s bad news for Conor McGregor and Jake Paul.
MMA legend Diaz is currently a free agent following his departure from the Ultimate Fighting Championship last September.
Fights with long-time rival McGregor and YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul are still, however, on the table for the former UFC lightweight title challenger.
But Diaz’s sets are seemingly set on competing in Japan under the RIZIN Fighting Federation banner.
On Thursday night, the Stockton slugger tweeted a picture of RIZIN’s logo to his 2.1million followers.
RIZIN have the financial muscle to entice Diaz to fight at the iconic Saitama Super Arena – where they have twice had boxing legend Floyd Mayweather compete.
But the allure of a lucrative trilogy fight with McGregor and back-to-back bouts with Paul could prove to be too much for Diaz.
McGregor and Diaz, 34 and 37 respectively, took part in two of the most memorable fights in recent UFC history.
Their series is level at one win apiece, but McGregor is adamant the pair will one day settle their rivalry.
After Diaz’s submission win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279, he tweeted: “Congrats Nate Diaz on making it to the end of his contractual obligations with the UFC.
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“And as a bonafide superstar goer.
“An incredible feat. Fair play. Our trilogy will happen.”
Social media sensation Paul laid the foundations for a fight with Diaz for much of 2022 and doubled down on his callouts this week after announcing his multi-year deal with the Professional Fighters’ Association.
The Problem Child said: “I’m so dedicated to this that I offered Nate Diaz a two-fight deal.
“First we box. Then six months later we fight MMA in the PFL smart cage and lay it all on the line.
“If that’s not balls, then I don’t know what is.
“Nate Diaz, I’m down to fight you in your own damn sport.
“It’s a two-fight deal. Let’s make it happen.”
Paul told The New York Times: “I would beat Nate Diaz up in an MMA fight.
“There’s nothing he could do. To me, I’ve always felt like I’ve jumped in the deep end, even in boxing.”