UFC President Dana White hopes to put Nate Diaz back in the octagon this year, after spending 2020 without a fight.
Diaz (20-12 MMA, 15-10 UFC), winner of “The Ultimate Fighter 5 ″ and one of the most notable names in the UFC cast, has said nothing about his plans for the future in recent months.
White said he also has no firm plans for the former UFC title challenger. Ideally, that will change in 2021, but he knows that with Diaz’s unpredictable nature, nothing is certain.
“I hope (he will fight this year),” White said during a recent ESPN + fan question and answer session with Laura Sanko. “I believe so. I would like to see you fight. I am not counting on that, but I would like to see you fight.”
Diaz has not competed since losing the “BMF” title fight to Jorge Masvidal via TKO in a medical stoppage in November 2019 at UFC 244. Before that, he won unanimously by Anthony Pettis in August 2019.
There were brief discussions about a Diaz rematch with Masvidal in late 2020 or early 2021, but the promotion seems to have moved away from that idea.
White was asked if we could see Diaz returning for an early trilogy fight with rival Conor McGregor, who faced Dustin Poirier in the UFC 257 main event on January 23. I don’t promise much that it will play out in the next 12 months.
“Probably not,” said White.