Nate Diaz seems uninterested in a return to 155 pounds.
Diaz, who has been on the shelf since losing the “BMF” title to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244, tweeted on Tuesday that he is available for fights in the welterweight category – don’t take it.
“[Nick Diaz Army] 170 pound soldier, ”wrote Diaz. “Come and get some real.”
Diaz emerged as an avant-garde opponent in the future of several rising lightweights, including Dustin Poirier, who knocked out Conor McGregor last month at UFC 257. In a recent interview with ESPN, Poirier seemed open to rescheduling a fight against Diaz at weight medium after his first fight – scheduled at lightweight at UFC 230 – was canceled due to injuries.
“Does it make sense at light weight? No, ”said Poirier. “Does it make sense to stand in front of a title shot? No. But it’s a fun fight and this is entertainment and this is a fight. “
Diaz later tweeted to Poirier, indicating that Louisianan is his main target.
Diaz was also touted as a logical sequence for McGregor after the devastating defeat of the former two-division champion at UFC 257. The two fought twice at 170 pounds, dividing a pair of fights into two of the biggest box office successes in the history of the promotion . McGregor expressed equal interest in a trilogy with Diaz or Poirier.
“I think they are both very big,” said McGregor. “Two lefties too, which is interesting. Both are there, so we’ll see what happens. “
The main opponents do not take into account countless others who tried to lure the Stockton, California native out of semi-retirement. From Warlley Alves to Khamzat Chimaev, Diaz’s popularity in the name change only reinforced his reputation as a perpetual needle mover in the business.
For opponents hoping to make money, however, Diaz has a number in mind on the scale. As early as 2010, the UFC vet expressed a desire to fight up to 170 pounds after serving most of his career in the lightweight division, where he was often encountered by fighters who had little desire other than to take him to the canvas.
After a disastrous move as a UFC welterweight, Diaz returned to lightweight in 2011 and fought unsuccessfully for the title against then champion Benson Henderson. In 2016, he took advantage of the moment when lightweight Rafael dos Anjos was forced to give up a lightweight title fight against McGregor at UFC 196. In the short term, Diaz agreed to the fight at 170 pounds and shocked the world to deliver McGregor his first loss octagon.
Since then, Diaz’s only appearances in the octagon have been at welterweight. At UFC 244, he was removed from the main attraction of the “BMF” with Jorge Masvidal due to the doctor’s stoppage in the cuts. He campaigned for a rematch and gave up when one failed.