UFC 306: Conor McGregor and Jake Paul on Nate Diaz’s Hitlist as Ex-UFC Star Guarantees Fight Against 4 Past Opponents

Nate Diaz might be out of the UFC but he still hasn’t forgotten the scores he has to settle. The Stockton native is currently a free agent as he chose not to re-sign with the promotion after his clash against Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in 2022.

And recently, it was announced that Diaz would face Jorge Masvidal in a boxing match on June 1. But it seems that the BMF title rematch isn’t the only thing on his mind as in a recent interview, he proclaimed that he has got some other names on his “hit list” that he wants to cross off in the near future!

Nate Diaz puts out his “hit list” with Conor McGregor at the top

Nate Diaz’s last fight in the UFC was marked with controversy as he was originally scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev for a welterweight clash at UFC 279. However, due to Chimaev missing the 170 lbs welterweight limit, the bout was remade with Tony Ferguson stepping up to take on Diaz instead.

While Diaz won the bout via a guillotine choke in the fourth round, he opted out of signing with the UFC again and in his subsequent free agency, took on Jake Paul in a boxing match in August, 2023. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

As such, in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Diaz stated, “I 100% guarantee I’m gonna fight Conor McGregor again, and 100% guarantee I’m gonna probably fight Jake Paul again, this f**king f**ker again, and Leon Edwards again, that’s my hit list. ”

When he was further questioned if he would be open to fighting McGregor at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Diaz responded by stating, “306 right, that’s my plan… ” The comments are interesting as ‘The Notorious’ had previously stated on social media, “I wish for this on Mexican Independence Day in The Sphere, Chandler June, Diaz September. I have let this be known.”

Leon Edwards, the current welterweight champion, also has history with the Stockton native as he had defeated Nate Diaz at UFC 263 in 2021, but not before Diaz staggered him with his patented 1-2 in the final moments of the last round.

And so, With Diaz’s determination and his list of targets, fight fans can anticipate some thrilling matchups in the near future. But while he has put McGregor on his “hit list”, the two men recently also shared words of respect for each other, adding more layers to their possible rematch!

Diaz and McGregor share mutual respect for one another

Conor McGregor found an unexpected ally in his quest for his UFC return when Nate Diaz, his old rival, showed support. On St. Patrick’s Day, Diaz tweeted a message backing McGregor amid his frustrations over the lack of news about his comeback fight. He stated, “Free Conor, it’s [St.] Patty’s Day in this b****”

The tweet came in response to McGregor’s claims that he was frustrated with the lack of information surrounding his comeback fight. As such, in his appearance on The MMA Hour, McGregor responded to Diaz’s support by stating, “Nate is great. When you share back-to-back knocks — we had real, real fights. That’s a real fighting man, the two brothers are real fighting men.”

Despite their intense rivalry, McGregor expressed admiration for Diaz and wished him well as their two fights at UFC 196 and UFC 202 in 2016 remain among the highest-selling pay-per-views in MMA history. In the realm of mixed martial arts, Diaz’s legacy is already cemented through his iconic battles with McGregor and others. However, his eagerness to face new challenges and settle unfinished business speaks to his enduring competitiveness and hunger for success!

Do you think Nate Diaz will be back in the UFC soon? Share your thoughts in the comments below!