By Boxing Scene Staff
September 11, 2022
Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
One of the UFC's biggest stars, Nate Diaz, finished his long run with the company on Saturday night in Las Vegas - after picking up a submission win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Diaz was initially scheduled to fight rising star Khamzat Chimaev, but he failed to make weight on Friday. Chimaev was a massive favorite to beat Diaz, who had one fight remaining on his UFC contract.
After the weight mishap, the UFC was forced to reorganize several fights on the card and finalized a fight between Diaz and Ferguson. Diaz, who spent the last 15 years with UFC, is now looking to pursue other lucrative options - with boxing his likely destination.
And the biggest fight for him - is a showdown with Youtube star turned boxer, Jake Paul (5-0, 4 KOs).
Paul is scheduled to return to the ring next month, when he faces another UFC legend, Anderson Silva - who some oddsmakers have listed as the favorite in that contest. Paul already holds stoppage wins over two former UFC fighters, Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley.
Diaz had angled for a fight with Paul in the past, but his UFC contract prevented him from pursuing that avenue. Now the charismatic fighter is free to pursue opportunities outside of the UFC.
“All I know it’s been a love-hate relationship with me and the UFC the whole time I’ve been in this organization but at the end of the day, I love the UFC. Shout out to Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Hunter Campbell for giving me the opportunities and the platform for the whole time, for everybody and for myself," Diaz said.
“I want to get out of the UFC for a minute and show all these UFC fighters how to take over and own up another sport how you’re supposed to do it. Cause Conor McGregor didn’t know how to do it [when he boxed Floyd Mayweather in 2017]. None of these other fighters know how to do it. So I’m going to go out there and I’m going take over another profession and become the best at that. Show everybody I’m the best at that and then I’m going to be right the f--- back here to get a motherf----- UFC title. The best title in the world.”
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