Chael Sonnen believes it’ll be a lot easier for Nate Diaz to return to the UFC than it would be for Ronda Rousey.
After a lackluster performance in his pro boxing debut against Jake Paul last year, the ‘Stockton Samurai’ bounced back with a big win over former BMF rival Jorge Masvidal inside the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Immediately following the win, Diaz expressed his interest in returning to the Octagon for a rematch with reigning welterweight world champion Leon Edwards.
Nate Diaz Calls Out Jake Paul and Leon Edwards in Post Fight Interview #DiazMasvidal pic.twitter.com/J8xJ9TENqN
— MMA SWiZZY (@themmawizz) July 7, 2024
Speaking about Diaz’s inevitable return to the MMA scene, three-time title challenger Chael Sonnen offered some insight into why the UFC would welcome back Nate Diaz with open arms while the promotion continues to distance itself from other notable names from the past—specifically women’s MMA icon Ronda Rousey.
“I maintain for you, one of the things that cost Ronda Rousey her career was not that she was falling down in the first round over and over, it was that her contract was so big, she had to be a main event and it had to be of a pay-per-view just to justify the numbers,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel.
“And main events of pay-per-views were world title fights, which means as good as Ronda was, and she was very good. She was very good, we just found out how exceptional Amanda Nunes was.”
Chael Sonnen Calls for the UFC to Book Nate Diaz vs. Dustin Poirier
As for Nate Diaz, ‘The American Gangster’ believes Dana White and Co. needs to get a deal done with Diaz and quickly pointed toward longtime play-by-play man Jon Anik, who already suggested the perfect opponent for the Stockton native’s return.
“Nate’s position is going to be different and it’s got to be done,” Sonnen added. “In fact, Jon Anik, one of the Diaz boys’ biggest supporters, knows the same thing to be true that I just said, and has made his suggestion, which is Dustin Poirier. Bring Nate in, get him in there with Dustin, solves every possible problem.”
Poirier and Diaz were previously scheduled to square off at UFC 230 in 2018 before ‘The Diamond’ was forced to withdraw due to a hip injury.
During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Poirier opened the door for a potential clash with Diaz, whether it be in MMA or boxing.
Watch Chael Sonnen’s full video below:
