It's been over a year since we've seen Nate Diaz fight inside the UFC Octagon, and after his epic two-fight rivalry with UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor, he's one of the most demanded fighters in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA).
Diaz stepped in for an injured Rafael dos Anjos back at UFC 196 in March of 2016, and defeated Conor McGregor for the first time in his UFC career via second round submission with a rear-naked choke.
Just a few months later that August they rematched at UFC 202 on a huge pay-per-view (PPV) that McGregor won via Majority Decision. After the fight Diaz claimed he'd be taking time off until he gets his trilogy fight with the Irishman.
For months now the UFC has reportedly been attempting to lure Diaz back into the Octagon for a big fight. It looks like they have presented him with a contract to fight UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Woodley confirms that he is in negotiations to fight Diaz and believes the fight could happen in July (quotes via MMA Fighting):
“I think that fight will happen,” Woodley told ESPN this week. “I think it will happen this year. I think it’s way more likely than people realize.
"There are conversations about Nate and I fighting in July. The UFC has offered Nate that fight. They just have to make it worth his while.
”I think I’ll fight Nate this year, and I think it will be my return to the Octagon. If I had to bet the house on it, that’s my next opponent.
“Do I think Nate will fight me?” asked Woodley. “Yes, for the right amount of money and the right time in history, I do,” Woodley said.
“Is it a good fight for him? No. I’m a lot faster. I punch a lot harder. I can take him down. He’s not going to submit me.
"That said, it’s not a good fight for him. So, they have to make it up to him in dollars and cents.
“I just want to do something that’s going to push me forward career-wise or push my legacy,” said Woodley. “I need both. I need super fights, and I need to continue to knock off these rising contenders.
"I’ve been fighting the best of the best since Strikeforce. It’s not like I’m asking for anything that I haven’t paid my dues for. I had to earn this position the hard way.”
What are your thoughts on Woodley saying that he's currently in negotiations to fight Nate Diaz sometime this summer? Do you think the UFC will offer the Stockton native enough money to make the fight happen? Or will he hold out to fight Conor McGregor in their highly anticipated trilogy bout instead? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below!
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