Nate Diaz wish for Khamzat Chimaev clash granted in final bout on his UFC contract
Nate Diaz’s star energy has grown exponentially within the Octagon over the past decade at the same time as his success in it has dwindled. As he goes into the ultimate combat of his contract against Khamzat Chimaev on Sept. 10 in the main event of UFC 279 in Las Vegas, Diaz is clearly one of many greatest sights within the UFC.
He’s not ranked at both light-weight or welterweight, and it is going to be greater than three years because the final time he gained a combat by the point the bell rings for him to face Chimaev.
However when it does occur, anticipate a standing-room solely crowd at T-Cellular Area to save lots of its greatest ovations for Diaz. It may very well be Diaz’s swan tune within the UFC, however UFC president Dana White didn’t rule out the opportunity of a brand new contract for Diaz.
He’s an anomaly in so some ways, however none extra so than in the best way he conducts his enterprise. He thinks in another way than you and I and nearly anybody else who follows the combat sport.
What different fighter might lose six of his final 10 fights, as Diaz has over the past decade, and see his recognition leapfrog all however a handful of fighters in blended martial arts?
Who else however Diaz might make the ridiculous request to combat both heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou or middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, as Diaz did on “The MMA Hour” final week, and never be mocked incessantly?
However since he fought Conor McGregor for the primary time at UFC 196, there hasn’t been greater than two or three larger names within the sport than the 37-year-old Nathan Donald Diaz.
He’s right down to the ultimate bout on his UFC contract, and regardless of loads of rumors on the contrary, he has no outlined plans. Does he go to combat YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul? Maybe. Does he signal with one other MMA promotion and combat a couple of instances for them? Maybe, although that appears unlikely because the greatest names reside within the UFC. Then once more, Diaz doesn’t understand issues the identical because the overwhelming majority of the remainder of us.
The great factor is, irrespective of the way it occurred, the fitting combat was made. Diaz consultant Zach Rosenfield stated Diaz has wished to combat Chimaev since April.
“It’s necessary to notice that this isn’t a combat that we had been provided; it is a combat we requested for,” Rosenfield informed Yahoo Sports activities.
Rosenfield stated he first had discussions with the UFC a few Chimaev combat on April 11, three days after Chimaev had defeated Burns at UFC 273. There had been discuss a Diaz-Chimaev combat previous to UFC 273, however Diaz wasn’t at that time.
In Diaz’s worldview, Chimaev hadn’t completed something to that time that made him a worthy opponent. Although Chimaev had obliterated John Phillips, Rhys McKee, Gerald Meerschaert and Li Jingliang, none of these fighters had been completed sufficient in Diaz’s eyes for him to contemplate a Chimaev win important.
Now, Chimaev landed 112 important strikes to only one for his opponents. He related on 112 of 145 important strikes for successful fee of 77.2. His opponents related on simply 1 of 4 strikes. As well as, Chimaev was 4 of 6 on takedowns.
That’s mind-boggling domination on the highest stage of the game, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to sway Diaz. However after defeating Burns, a former welterweight title contender, that did it.
It wasn’t simple for both facet. Diaz was pleading repeatedly with the UFC for a combat on social media, however the UFC was insisting it had provided Diaz fights. Left unsaid was that he was declining them.
Dana White would not rule out Nate Diaz returning to UFC
On Saturday at UFC Lengthy Island, White was peppered with questions on Diaz. He tried his greatest to keep away from them, however lastly stated he’s required to supply fighters three fights a yr. If the UFC doesn’t, then they’re obligate to pay the fighters despite the fact that they didn’t combat. White stated on the information convention the UFC hadn’t paid Diaz, the implication being they’d fulfilled their obligation to supply him fights.
However White informed Yahoo Sports activities on Tuesday that he knew the Diaz-Chimaev combat was within the works however didn’t wish to say something publicly till it was official.
UFC 279 would be the uncommon pay-per-view headlined by a non-title combat, however White stated it’s a results of the stardom of each Diaz and Chimaev.
“Clearly, it is a combat the followers wish to see,” White stated. “Since we made this announcement, my f***ing telephone blew up. My feed on Instagram is all about thi s combat. It’s a enjoyable combat and individuals are excited. Clearly, Nate’s an enormous star, however Khamzat is, too. I don’t know should you had been at his final combat [at UFC 273] however the place went loopy when he walked out. He’s an enormous star.
“On this sport, it’s all concerning the fights you make and that is one so many individuals are excited to see. It’s not about Nate being on a protracted profitable streak or no matter, it’s that he’s a man who involves combat and you understand what you’re going to get with him. He’s form of in that Arturo Gatti territory now.”
Gatti is a Corridor of Fame boxer who was identified principally for his wild slugfests.
Diaz, himself, has been in a slew of loopy fights, and he’s one of many few fighters who can construct a combat simply by utilizing Twitter or doing an occasional interview.
White is aware of it’s Diaz’s last bout, however he didn’t shut the door on a return.
“Nate sat in my workplace and I informed him, ‘Go do no matter you need, child,’” White stated. “I wouldn’t say this was arduous to get completed. We’re making fights on a regular basis right here. July 23, July 30, Aug. 6, Aug. 20, Sept. 3, Sept. 10. And once you do this, it’s about the place fights match and take advantage of sense. And keep in mind, Khamzat had that knock-down, drag-out loopy wild combat with Burns. That was a conflict and he wanted time, too.
“It’s not like there have been these large points. It was extra about timing, and we had been heading into the summer time and all of that. However I’m excited we’ve it completed as a result of that’s going to be a loopy combat.”
