Nate Diaz bowed out of the UFC the time being for with a dramatic win over Tony Ferguson on Saturday night.The 37-year-old finally came to the end of his contract with the promotion at the T-Mobile Arena as he submitted Ferguson with a guillotine choke in the fourth round of their main event bout.Diaz had originally been scheduled to fight Khamzat Chimaev, but their encounter had to be scrapped after the 28-year-old weighed in heavier than the welterweight limit and was duly deferred to a fight with Kevin Holland.Nevertheless, the late switch didn't stop Diaz from securing the farewell that he would have wanted, bagging his first win in the UFC since earning a unanimous decision over Anthony Pettis three years ago.And with the conclusion of his win over Ferguson confirming him as a free agent in the world of mixed martial arts, it only made sense that Diaz was asked about his next steps in the fight game.
Diaz's post-fight interview
In his post-fight interview, the Stockton-born brawler explained: "I want to get out of the UFC for a minute and show all these fighters how to take over and own up another sport how youâre supposed to do it because Conor McGregor didnât know how to do it.
"None of these other fighters know how to do it. So Iâm going to go out there and Iâm going take over another profession and become the best at that.
"Show everybody Iâm the best at that and then Iâm going to be right the f*** back here to get a motherf****** UFC title. The best title in the world."
Video: Diaz speaks to Joe Rogan after his win over Ferguson
So not only might we see Diaz competing in the UFC again one day in the future, but his beef with the promotion's most famous fighter is very much still alive.
McGregor fires back on Twitter
That's because Diaz just couldn't resist taking a quick dig at McGregor's foray into boxing as he outlined his own plans to try out life in the square circle.
And it will come as no surprise to learn that it took 'Notorious' all of a few minutes to reply to Diaz mentioning him in his post-match interview, firing back with a typically provocative tweet.
The former double champion penned on Twitter: "Ah come on bro Iâm absolutely stinking. And with so much quality. This has never been seen before what Iâm doing man. Please, Your nothing with out me. Respect, please. Iâd slap you around handy. And Tony easy. Iâd have sawed Tony in half. 2 ham ball heads. Respect the king."
A trilogy fight on the cards?
McGregor has been out of the octagon since he suffered a leg break in his third fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021 and has only won twice since his rematch with Diaz all the way back in 2016.
And who knows, perhaps these late developments could well set up a trilogy match between the two pay-per-view stars either in the UFC Octagon or on the canvas of a boxing ring.
Either way, you just know that every man, woman and their dog would pay to see that happen.
LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 20: Conor McGregor (R) takes a punch from Nate Diaz during their welterweight rematch at the UFC 202 event at T-Mobile Arena on August 20, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor won by majority decision. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)