Nate Diaz, alongside his brother Nick, is widely regarded as one of MMA`s most formidable and legendary figures. The Stockton native is infamous for his unwavering readiness to engage in altercations, often with his entourage, regardless of the opponent or the situation at hand. His reaction to UFC 318 in July further solidified his continued belief that he is the rightful BMF (Baddest Motherf***er) champion, a title he first contended for in 2019.
Despite this hardened persona, the 40-year-old recently confessed that one particular opponent made him feel unusually intimidated, leading to sleepless nights.
Nate Diaz Identifies Takanori Gomi Bout as a Defining Career Moment
During a recent appearance on Jake Shields` “Fight Back” podcast, Nate Diaz delved into the most significant fights of his UFC journey. He acknowledged that fans typically expect him to highlight his iconic clashes with Conor McGregor. However, while a McGregor trilogy bout would undoubtedly be monumental, Diaz explained that other fights hold greater personal importance due to their profound impact at the time.
He specifically mentioned two such encounters, one against an opponent he held in high esteem.
“I fought Takanori Gomi, and Gomi was the GOAT when I was f***ing kicking off.”
Diaz notably submitted Gomi in the first round at UFC 135 in September 2011, marking the Pride legend`s third Octagon appearance. The matchup carried an added layer of complexity for Nate, as his brother Nick Diaz had previously submitted Gomi four years prior (a result later overturned due to a positive marijuana test). This history made Nate apprehensive about the impending fight.
“Beating Gomi, that was the scariest fight of my life and that’s why it happened so perfect for me. He’s older and not peaking, but I watched him; I based a lot of my fighting off of him. I was like, ‘Bro, sh**, you’re the guy, and now I’m fighting you? And Nick f***ed you [up] so you’re really mad at me? I’m having a hard time sleeping tonight.’ You might just get f***ed up because of that [laughs].”
Another Legendary Clash: Donald `Cowboy` Cerrone
Diaz also cited a second pivotal fight in his career that stood out to him. While his encounter with Takanori Gomi was about facing a respected legend he looked up to, his very next fight was an opportunity to make a powerful statement. Donald `Cowboy` Cerrone had become a dominant force in the lightweight division, boasting four consecutive wins since joining the UFC from the WEC.
Diaz reflected on his ability to halt Cerrone’s impressive momentum with one of his career-best performances, solidifying his own position in the division.
“That was the biggest sh** when I fought Cowboy [Donald Cerrone]. That was fighting a guy that I thought, ‘You guys are all looking at this b*** ass motherf***er? Nah.’ Because he’s the new thing coming from the WEC sh**. So I beat his ass and was like, what’s up? And to me, that felt like a big piece of my timeline.”
Neville Whittle