Nate Diaz says UFC is ‘holding me hostage’ over contract

Nate Diaz is a prisoner behind the metallic chain-link partitions of the UFC octagon, so he says.

The 37-year-old claims he’s ready to sq. off towards any fighter in an effort to fulfill his present contract and department out into different sectors of fight sports activities. Nevertheless, each time Diaz has requested a combat from the UFC, he’s been offered with a brand new contract extension by the group, which he’d wish to momentarily step away from.

“I used to be making an attempt to get this s–t on the highway, however they don’t need me out of contract they usually’re maintaining me in there they usually’re holding me hostage,” Diaz stated on “The MMA Hour” with Ariel Helwani. “And I would like out. That’s my most important goal right here.”

Diaz said he solely has one combat remaining on his present contract following his final bout towards Leon Edwards at UFC 263 in June 2021, which he misplaced. Since then, the one combat he’s been supplied is towards Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 276 – a match that Diaz claims the welterweight star shut down. Diaz has moreover requested to tackle Vicente Luque and Tony Ferguson amongst others, however has obtained little phrase again.

Diaz’s final combat got here towards Leon Edwards at UFC 263 in June 2021, through which he misplaced.

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Diaz believes his solely method out of the UFC is by partaking within the promotion firm’s desired headliner – a trilogy combat between him and longtime rival Conor McGregor, who’s at the moment recovering from a damaged leg he sustained at UFC 264. For the southpaw welterweight, it’s one of many few bouts he’s not keen to take.

“They don’t wish to let me out of my contract,” Diaz stated. “They need me to combat Conor. I’m not combating Conor McGregor proper now. Our timelines aren’t matching up. … You carry your self again to life, and I’ll be again later.”

The UFC didn't instantly return a request for remark.

Jake Paul, Dustin Poirier and Kevin Holland have publicly referred to as out Diaz, who expressed his willingness to face off towards all of them. Paul is probably probably the most intriguing challenger, because the youtuber-turned-boxer supplied to combat Diaz free of charge within the UFC as long as the deal included an elevated minimal payout and long-term healthcare advantages for UFC rivals.

Whereas Diaz acknowledged the unlikelihood of a faceoff versus Paul materializing, he added “s–t, if it will get me out of my contract, let’s do that s–t.”

“I’m all in favour of the whole lot,” Diaz stated. “I’m all in favour of exercise. If he’s going to be the primary one to step up, I’ll combat him, I’ll combat everyone. Anybody who needs to combat, I’ll combat that’s truly speaking some s–t like Jake Paul.”

For now, Diaz’s goals of making an attempt his hand in boxing, jiu-jitsu and combat promotion stay simply that. Not even elevated prize cash might sway his need to briefly go away the UFC.

“I don’t need no more cash,” Diaz stated. “I wish to go do completely different stuff. I went in there and talked to them, and it’s with all due respect. … I'd simply re-sign afterward, however I want out.”