Nate Diaz Addresses Ongoing Contractual Dispute With UFC: “They Don’t Want To Let Me Out Of My Contract”
Former UFC title challenger Nate Diaz is tired of waiting for the promotion to book him a fight and would like to move on from the company altogether.
Diaz spoke with journalist Ariel Helwani on his show The MMA Hour on Tuesday and explained why he wants to leave the UFC, after the prolonged issues he’s had getting a fight booked since his last Octagon appearance against Leon Edwards at UFC 263 in June 2021. He also added that the promotion continues to offer him a trilogy bout with former two-division UFC champion, Conor McGregor, which is something Diaz himself currently has no interest in.
“I was trying to get this shit on the road, but they don’t want me out of contract and they’re keeping me in there and they’re holding me, hostage,” Diaz said (h/t MMA Fighting). “And I want out. That’s my main objective here. They don’t want to let me out of my contract. They want me to fight Conor. I’m not fighting Conor McGregor right now. Our timelines aren’t matching up. You bring yourself back to life, and I’ll be back later.”
.@NateDiaz209 shoots down the idea of Conor McGregor being his next fight — #TheMMAHour
“Our timelines aren’t matching up… I’m not fighting you right now. I’m supposed to bring you back to life before I go?”
https://t.co/MfOpg76KYu pic.twitter.com/ZMvgclrkYB
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) July 12, 2022
He continued on describing how the UFC keeps trying to offer him more money and extend his current deal, every time he asks them for a fight. This is something that again, Diaz has no interest in as he only wants to depart from the company now. The 37-year-old Stockton, California native has requested his release from the promotion since March.
“When I’m asking for a fight, they offer me more money,” Diaz said (h/t MMA Junkie). “Then they offer me more money, more money. I’m at a point in my career and my life where I don’t want any more money. I just want to depart. I’m over the whole UFC roster as of right now. All the guys that they can offer or I’m even asking for, everyone’s been used and abused. It’s a recycled division. Lightweight or welterweight division, I feel like there’s nobody worthy. There’s no worthy opponents at the moment. UFC, can I please have my last fight and be on my way?”
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