Nate Diaz is ready to move on to bigger and better things.
For several months now Nate Diaz has been asking to be released from his UFC contract. Diaz was on the last fight of his current contract and had been trying to get that fight scheduled for some time now. When it looked like the UFC would not be giving him his wish, Diaz began to publicly call out the UFC on social media. Now, he has a fight lined up with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279, although it was not Diaz’s choice.
The situation between Diaz and the UFC has been rocky for the better part of a year. Diaz has been unhappy with the fact that he could not get a fight booked and on the flip side, the UFC per Dana White was saying Diaz had been offered fights but would not take them. It seemed that Diaz was painted into a corner and had to take this fight in order to satisfy his contract. Now that the fight is just days away, Diaz is on the brink of being a free man so to speak. After UFC 279 Diaz will be a free agent and able to sign or fight anywhere he wants. He seems ready to browse the market.
“I think I’ve been stuck in the cage for a long time and I gotta do what I got to do to get the f-ck out whether it be fight the toughest guy, the newest guy, whatever you want to make of him or call him? Or anybody, I’m just ready to rock and roll,” he said at the pre-fight presser.
Nate Diaz has plenty of opportunities to choose from in free agency
Diaz’s status in the fight world has risen exponentially in the past five or so years and he is now one of the most popular fighters on the planet. With this kind of fame comes possibilities. Diaz recently announced that he is opening his very own fight promotion called Real Fight inc. He could have the opportunity to fight under his own banner once his UFC contract is up. Another option that Diaz has been linked to is a boxing match with Jake Paul. This is a lucrative choice and Diaz would fit right in. Either way, Diaz knows that he is ready to move on and make big money along his next journey.
“I like the UFC. It’s kind of limited for me and I wanted to reach higher goals, higher objectives, and do bigger stuff than this and under the UFC umbrella, it’s like I said, you’re limited,” he said. “You can only go so far. And like I said, it’s only the halftime show. It’s time to blow past everybody here and the organization and even if it involved in me staying in or getting out, I’m gonna do something bigger than I’ve ever done as soon as this is done.”
Despite the bright future, he must first step into the Octagon for the last time against a tough opponent in Chimaev. The pair will headline the UFC 279 event taking place on Sept. 10 in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
