Although UFC 310 in Las Vegas lacked the star power of mainstream big names, the event grabbed headlines for all the wrong reasons. Former UFC star Nate Diaz, known for his knack for controversy, stirred chaos backstage following the weigh-ins. The Stockton native nearly sparked a riot by hurling water bottles at reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and members of Team Khabib, who were in attendance for the pre-fight press conference ahead of their upcoming UFC 311 event, scheduled for January next year.

In exchange, Team Khabib didn’t hold back and retaliated, throwing water bottles back at Nate Diaz. Since then, many in the sports world have widely condemned the altercation, including UFC President Dana White and Team Khabib’s coach, American Top Team’s Javier Mendez. Recently, Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s cousin and UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov shared his thoughts on the incident during an appearance on the Ushatayka YouTube channel. Umar suggested that the former title challenger’s actions were driven by a hunger for attention.

‘Young Eagle’ explained [translated from Russian], “Well, that’s also a character who knows that there is security, so he passes by like this. If you want something, make sure you are close to it, in walking distance. If you want to hit, here you have it all in accessibility. Why go somewhere else, show your fingers, throw something, and then start it?”

In short, Umar Nurmagomedov exposed Nate Diaz’s eagerness to create conflict with Islam Makhachev through inappropriate gestures and antics rather than facing him directly. Umar challenged the Stockton native to act like a man and come face-to-face with the reigning champion. He added, “He’s interesting for some gestures like these. There it is, [it is] interesting that with him [you have to be ready], some things are possible with him. And then, long ago, [there was] history there [between team Diaz and team Khabib], and well, he got what he needed.”

Nate Diaz has remained away from the Octagon since his last fight in 2022, where he secured a victory over Tony Ferguson via guillotine choke at UFC 279. During his time away, the Stockton native ventured into boxing, stepping into the ring against notable names like Jake Paul and Jorge Masvidal. However, despite stepping back from full-time competition, Diaz has stayed connected to the UFC, often appearing at events to support friends and teammates. Most recently, he supported Kron Gracie at UFC 310.

The Diaz brothers, known for their polarizing and often controversial behavior, have consistently remained in the public eye, and this latest incident is no exception. It begs the question: Could this controversy open the door for Nate Diaz to make a return to the UFC? Although nothing is confirmed, a prominent lightweight contender recently expressed interest in fighting the Stockton native, fueling speculation about his long-awaited octagon return.

Who wants to face Nate Diaz next?

Nate Diaz, alongside his older brother Nick Diaz, was once at the top of the game, but when the spotlight faded, they found themselves struggling. Nick Diaz, who has been inactive for much of the past few years, saw his fight against Vicente Luque postponed twice, with the most recent cancellation happening at UFC 310. However, weeks before the scheduled fight, a reportedly viral video surfaced online showing Nick shirtless, appearing to be under the influence, squatting, and seemingly trying to ignite something on the grass.

Now, his younger brother Nate Diaz is also back in the headlines. A recent video circulating on social media shows Nate involved in an altercation with a nightclub employee, leading to charges of battery. This incident comes right on the heels of Nate’s backstage altercation with Islam Makhachev during the UFC 310 weigh-ins.

While Islam Makhachev may not be interested in facing Nate Diaz inside the octagon, former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has not hesitated to express his desire to fight the Stockton native. On the MMA-oriented page ‘Championship Rounds’, Poirier directly called out Diaz and issued a message to UFC boss Dana White, writing, “Bring Nate back and let me smash him.”

How do you feel about Nate Diaz’s recent actions? Do you think he’s truly eager to face off against the Dagestanis, or is it just a tactic to stay relevant in the headlines? At 39, do you believe Nate still has the ability to make a successful comeback? Let us know your thoughts below!