Nate Diaz is in his final “fight week of hell” as UFC 279 gets closer by the hour. The tenured fan favorite is expected to step inside the Octagon for what will likely be his final fight under the UFC banner. Standing across from him will be dangerous streaking welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev.
Much has been said about the fight between Diaz and Chimaev. Most of which has been confusion by both fans and fighters questioning why the showdown was booked in the first place. Many believe the UFC and Dana White are intentionally leading Nate Diaz to slaughter. Others jumped onto the selling point that Diaz himself asked for the fight. During an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the Stockton native was happy to squash the latter, saying in no uncertain terms that he does not want the fight with Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday night.
“I’m the champion of the whole UFC altogether, and I don’t give a f*ck,” Diaz said. “What they got me doing right now is they’re acting like I called for this fight, which I didn’t call for, and I don’t want, and didn’t want, and still don’t want, but I don’t give a f*ck. I’ll fight anybody.”
Originally, Diaz wanted to fight perpetual Conor McGregor opponent Dustin Poirier. The two had agreed to the bout on multiple occasions going as far back as 2018, but the pairing fell apart for a multitude of reasons. Now he finds himself days away from one of the most dangerous young fighters in all of the UFC. With that said, Nate Diaz made it very clear that he’s not afraid of facing Chimaev. His issue is with respect. Or in this case, the lack thereof.
“This fight’s not even about this guy,” Diaz said. “It’s about making this guy. It’s about making this motherf*cker. And I’m like, ‘OK, well, you guys aren’t gonna let me go, because I’m the best fighter here. And you’re not gonna let me go unless it’s off of somebody. I gotta make somebody for you?’ Well, all right. You’re welcome. Let’s make him. You’re welcome, UFC.”
This fight is UNMISSABLE 🔥
Khamzat Chimaev 🆚 Nate Diaz goes down this weekend at #UFC279.
Who have you got? VOTE BELOW 👇 pic.twitter.com/wNmfqEsrgn
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) September 6, 2022
Nate Diaz is Fighting More Than Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279
Going into his final bout under the Las Vegas-based promotion, Nate Diaz feels like he’s being used as a fall guy. Something that doesn’t sit well with the Ultimate Fighter alum that has given the promotion 29 fights and 16 years of (mostly) loyal service.
“Why’s the UFC been disrespecting and making me be, like, their fall guy or something? F*ck him, f*ck them, f*ck everybody.”
Nate Diaz is ready for a war on Saturday night, but it’s not just against the Swedish killer in Khamzat Chimaev. It’s against everyone that has ever doubted or disrespected him.
“The organization, everybody,” Diaz said. “Everything. Fans, haters, lovers. Everything.”
When Diaz steps back into to the Octagon on Saturday night, it’ll be in front of a live Las Vegas crowd for the first time in six years. Of course, if he had his way, he would have fought and been done with the UFC months ago. After a very public feud that even saw him urinating on the property of the UFC Performance Insititute, Diaz will reluctantly meet the terms of his contract against the Chechnyan-born welterweight.
What happens after that is largely dependent on who’s hand is raised in the UFC 279 main event. Regardless of the winner, it will certainly give fans something to talk about one way or another.
