Nick Diaz Says He & Nate Can Defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov
Nick Diaz hasn’t been seen in action since a no contest against former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva at UFC 183, while Nate hasn’t been seen since a decision loss to former two division UFC champion Conor McGregor at UFC 202.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is the current UFC Lightweight Champion, but Nick believes that he and Nate could both beat the title holder if given the opportunity.
“You have to have a certain style to beat that type of wrestler on the ground. McGregor’s brand new on the bottom. I think my brother could beat him. I definitely know I could beat him,” Diaz said to Fox Sports. “We’d have to fight at a catch weight, I ain’t trying to get down to 155 pounds. You’ve got to be someone like McGregor but you’ve got to be able to survive that bottom game. He didn’t have the right defense on the bottom, he didn’t have the right formula on the bottom.”
Nurmagomedov is facing possible punishment for inciting a post-fight brawl at UFC 229, so it could be awhile before either brother can face the lightweight champion.
Diaz did have a chance to watch the main event of UFC 229 and felt that McGregor wasn’t himself during that fight.
“I don’t think Conor looked himself in that fight. I don’t think he looked all 100-percent Conor McGregor in that fight,” Diaz said. “I wanted him to win because I’m tired of seeing that type of style to win. To me it’s just a dirty fighting style.”
While Nick couldn’t drop to 155 pounds for a title fight against the champion, brother Nate currently competes at that weight class and is ranked #10.
