Former UFC superstar Nate Diaz is eyeing his return to the ring after watching Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson.
Nate Diaz was one of millions around the world who tuned in for Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson last weekend. While the fanfare and pre-fight hype lived up to expectations, the fight’s entertainment level disgruntled many, as Paul walked away with a unanimous decision victory.
Paul eyes a potential clash with Canelo Alvarez after the decisive victory over Tyson. But, Diaz could potentially vy for a rematch with Paul after falling short against him in their boxing fight last year.
After earning his first professional boxing win earlier this year, Diaz is eying a return to either the cage or Octagon heading into 2025. A potential return to the UFC is on the table after parting ways with the promotion following a win at UFC 279.
Diaz, 39, remains one of combat sports’ biggest stars despite his up-and-down fighting record in recent years. A UFC comeback, particularly against a big-name opponent, would likely earn Diaz a multi-million payday.
After a few days of social media silence following Paul vs. Tyson, Diaz is ready to get back in the mix in either boxing or MMA, as 2025 draws closer.
Nate Diaz inching closer to fighting return after Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
In a recent Instagram post, Diaz reacted to Paul vs. Tyson by teasing his fighting comeback.
“Fuck this watching shit,” Diaz posted.
Diaz hasn’t fought since defeating former UFC foe Jorge Masvidal in their boxing clash in July. He won the fight by majority decision after a back-and-forth battle with Masvidal in the ring.
Diaz defeated Tony Ferguson in his UFC finale at UFC 279 in 2022. Just weeks after submitting Ferguson, Diaz walked away from the promotion to pursue ventures outside of MMA.
But, Diaz hasn’t ruled out potentially returning to the UFC, especially if the Conor McGregor trilogy is on the table. Diaz and McGregor shared one of the biggest rivalries in UFC history during their two clashes at UFC 202 and UFC 196.
Diaz rose to superstardom when he tapped out McGregor on short notice at UFC 196. Before the win, he was a fan favorite but wasn’t nearly the box office attraction he became after the all-time upset victory.
Nate Diaz wants eventual UFC return for Conor McGregor trilogy
UFC CEO Dana White remains open to the possibility of re-signing Diaz after his 2022 departure. McGregor, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
McGregor was supposed to headline UFC 303 in his long-awaited comeback fight against Michael Chandler. But, he withdrew on weeks’ notice due to a toe injury, indefinitely postponing his return to the Octagon.
Diaz and McGregor both want to finish their rivalry with a trilogy fight in the UFC. Their previous two encounters set numerous pay-per-view benchmarks, particularly their rematch at UFC 202.
Diaz has plenty of options for his next fighting venture, including a potential return to the boxing ring for the Paul rematch. In the meantime, we could be just weeks away from getting more clarity on the Stockton superstar’s next move.
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