UFC president Dana White had nothing but kind words for outgoing star Nate Diaz. Diaz announced his intention to leave the UFC after his headliner at UFC 279, and at the post-fight press conference, White wished Diaz well in his next endeavor. “He’s been here forever. It’s been a blast having him here. I wish him well.
Me and him had this discussion months ago at the offices. Whatever he moves on to do, I wish him nothing but the best. He’s starting his own organization or getting into promoting or doing something else, I wish him nothing but the best of luck. It’s been awesome having him here.”
Dana White on Nate Diaz’s UFC Legacy: “This is His House”
Prior to UFC 279, Nate Diaz announced the launch of his own fight promotion, Real Fight Inc. Diaz’s plan for his promotion is to host fights across various sports, including MMA, grappling, and boxing. Nate Diaz is also hoping to transition into other sports, including boxing.
Diaz is one of the UFC’s biggest stars, and would be a major draw in the booming business of novelty fights. Jake Paul, for example, has called Diaz out several times. Nate Diaz, as a UFC retiree significantly lighter than Paul, would fit the usual profile for the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s opponents.
Dana White said that Nate Diaz would be welcome to return to the UFC fold after spending his entire career thus far with the promotion. “No matter what Nate does from here on out, this is his house.”
Diaz defeated Tony Ferguson via submission in the fourth round of UFC 279’s main event. Dana White, discussing the fight, said it played out pretty much exactly as expected, with two fan favorites on the tail end of their prime years leaving it all in the Octagon.
“Listen, they’re both older guys that have been around here for a long time. It was what I expected.
[Nate Diaz is] so durable and so tough. Literally, I don’t know if you guys have monitors or you can hear what’s going on, but we went into Tony’s corner that round and his corner for some reason told him to take [Diaz] down. [They] said, ‘Take him down.’ He was chopping that leg, kicking that front leg, obviously doing damage and his corner told him to take him down. Nate capitalized on that the minute he did it.”
What do you think is next for Nate Diaz? Let us know in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er7sFW-f-tM
