What are the signs that a fighter is on their way out? A drop in peak performance is the obvious indicator, but beyond that? One tell-tale sign is when a fighter goes out of their way to call out someone far below their pay grade. And in this case, “below pay grade” means fighters who are way past their prime, and have spent a considerable time away from the Octagon. What we mean by this is—a fighter who calls someone out knowing they have a winning chance. In this article, we’re talking about Colby Covington calling out the Diaz brothers.

“Yeah, probably one of the Diaz brothers. You know, they’re big names, they’re legends of the game. So, they draw attention, you know. They sell pay-per-views and they get people excited for fights.” Covington said, declared that he only wants to “fight legends” currently, in a recent interview with Submission Radio.

While Covington’s words may seem like just another chapter in his long history of verbal warfare, there’s more to this callout than meets the eye. Is a fight with either Diaz brother actually realistic? And more importantly, does it even make sense? For years, fans have speculated about a potential Nick Diaz comeback, but the reality of his situation paints a far more complicated picture.

The former Strikeforce champion made his long-awaited UFC return in 2021 against Robbie Lawler, only for it to end in a disappointing TKO loss. Since then, reports about his troubled training camp, questionable conditioning, and allegations of substance abuse ahead of his scheduled return against Vicente Luque last year resulting in a no-show; have cast doubt on whether he will ever compete at an elite level again. At one point, the community was seriously worried about his health and hoped that he’d focus on recovering rather than make a comeback to fighting.

Nick Diaz himself has remained tight-lipped about his future, but those close to him suggest that his return to fighting is anything but certain. If Covington is truly serious about facing Nick, the question isn’t whether the fight would sell—it’s whether Nick would even be physically or mentally ready for such a matchup.

Unlike his older brother, Nate Diaz has remained active, but not in the way ‘Chaos’ would prefer. The Stockton slugger left the UFC in 2022 following a submission win over Tony Ferguson, and since then, he’s been chasing big-money boxing fights instead of Octagon battles. “Why would I fight these guys when I can make ten times the money boxing?” Nate once said about a potential UFC return. This raises a major issue with Covington’s challenge—is Nate even interested in returning to MMA at this stage of his career?

And how did the MMA community react to Covington calling out the Diaz brothers? Well, one fighter, in particular, didn’t too kindly to this call-out and offered himself instead of the legendary siblings of the sport.

Kevin Holland calls Colby Covington out for Diaz brothers call out

While Covington’s callout has generated headlines, some fighters and fans have called out the hypocrisy behind it. Amid the backlash, Kevin Holland threw his name into the mix. Given Holland’s mixed run in the UFC off late, the fight with Covington is exactly what can help him get his name back in the mix, in his hunt for the best fights in the UFC. Holland wrote on X, “No 🧢 I’m probably the best he will get, plus I can’t wrestle 🤷🏿‍♂️ @ColbyCovMMA.”

Covington has fought just four times in the last four years, with his most recent bout being a disappointing doctor’s stoppage loss to Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa in December last year. Despite calling out various opponents, he has yet to officially sign a fight, making his challenge to the Diaz brothers seem more like an attempt to stay relevant than an actual fight proposal.

With Nick Diaz’s uncertain health, Nate Diaz’s boxing focus, and Covington’s own inactivity, a fight between Covington and either Diaz brother seems unlikely at best. But a fight against Kevin Holland is something, we’re sure, no one will object to.

What do you think of Colby Covington’s bid to fight the Diaz brothers? Is this him seeking an easy way out, especially since he got a reality check against Buckley last December? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.