Nate Diaz, one of MMA’s toughest fighters, wants the biggest names in the game. On July 15, 2025, the 40-year-old appeared on the Out Cold podcast, naming Conor McGregor as his top choice for a trilogy fight while also targeting UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and boxing stars Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
Diaz made his case for McGregor, saying:
“If I could fight anybody right now, I would fight — with all due respect to them — if Conor McGregor came back. Shit, Conor McGregor. There ain’t nobody else to fight, really, right now. I would like for him to come back and impress everybody first. Not that he needs to, but it would be great to see him back. Everybody’s hating on him. I’d like to beat up somebody on top of the world, and I think he’s got the capability to do that.”
He also praised Topuria, noting:
“Then that little Ilia Topuria, he’s doing a really good job. He’s a little small for me, but those two are probably the best fights.”
For boxing, he added:
“And then on the boxing side, obviously Canelo or Crawford. I ain’t asking for nothing, but when I whoop someone’s ass, I’m gonna get them motherf*ckers, too. With all do respect. So that’s my plan.” Via MMAFighting
Diaz’s Career and Rivalry with McGregor
Diaz holds a 21-13 MMA record, known for his relentless style and fights against top names like Tony Ferguson and Rory MacDonald. His rivalry with McGregor is iconic. At UFC 196 in March 2016, Diaz submitted McGregor via rear-naked choke in the second round, a major upset. McGregor won the rematch at UFC 202 in August 2016 by majority decision, tying their series at 1-1. The fights were massive, with UFC 202 drawing 1.65 million pay-per-view buys, one of the highest in UFC history.
Diaz’s last UFC fight was a submission win over Ferguson at UFC 279 in September 2022. He then boxed Jake Paul in August 2023, losing by unanimous decision, and defeated Jorge Masvidal in July 2024. His interest in Topuria, who won the featherweight title by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February 2024 and defended it against Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October 2024, shows his ambition to face elite talent.
Future Fights and Ambitions
Diaz sees McGregor as the ideal opponent, given their history and McGregor’s star power. McGregor, with a 22-6 record, hasn’t fought since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. A planned June 2023 fight with Michael Chandler was delayed by injuries. McGregor mentioned a 2026 White House UFC event at a Bare Knuckle FC press conference, saying, “It’s looking like I’m headed to the Oval Office again,” but no fight is confirmed.
Diaz also named boxing champions Canelo Alvarez, a multi-division titleholder, and Terence Crawford, the undefeated welterweight champ, as targets. Both are among boxing’s biggest names, with Canelo defeating Edgar Berlanga in September 2024 and Crawford beating Israil Madrimov in August 2024. Diaz, a free agent since leaving the UFC in 2022, wants big fights in both MMA and boxing. His callouts show he’s not slowing down, aiming to cement his legacy against the best.
