UFC lightweight Nate Diaz isn’t sitting on the sidelines waiting for a trilogy fight with Conor McGregor, according to his friend Jake Shields. Nate even hinted at his long-awaited return to the UFC Octagon via social media post earlier this year saying he would be ‘see u’ in May or June.
The 33-year-old Stockton hasn’t competed since he lost the bout to McGregor at UFC 202 back in Aug 2016 and his inactivity has led many to believe he has his sight set on a rubber match with Irishman, who he humbled at UFC 196, and both of these fights drew more than 1 million pay-per-view buys.
His longtime teammate and former UFC welterweight Jake Shields insisted that’s not the case, and believes Diaz wants to return but waiting to be offered a fight with right price.
“He’s not just looking for Conor,” Shields told The MMA Hour. “He’s looking for a fight that makes sense and that’s going to give him a big payday and a lot of hype.”
While many are wondering whether we’ll ever see the Nate Diaz back to action, Shields is adamant mixed martial arts fans haven’t seen the last of the Stockton native.
As per recent reports from ESPN.com, Nate Diaz has been in discussion with UFC about a possible fight at UFC 227 in Aug. However; no deal has signed yet. On being asked, UFC president Dana White didn’t offer much detail on the recent discussion but said preliminary talks are underway but nothing is final yet.
As per MMAFighting, Conor Mcgregor and undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov aren’t discussed as a potential opponent, it’s unclear what route UFC will take, but if Nate returns to his natural weight class of 155 lb, then Eddie Alvarez, Dustin Poirier, and Kevin Lee are few options that would make sense.
Per sources, UFC and Diaz have discussed UFC 227 on Aug. 4 as a potential return date for him. Conversations as recent as last week. Doesn't guarantee a deal will happen, but at least they are talking. https://t.co/6lBk20DmBp
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 1, 2018
UFC 227 is set to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, that card also features a bantamweight championship rematch between T.J. Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt.