Veteran mixed martial artist Nate Diaz has made it clear he has no interest in being part of Conor McGregor’s return narrative, revealing he declined a potential trilogy fight with the former two-division UFC champion. Diaz emphasized his stance, stating unequivocally, “I’m nobody’s comeback story.”
Diaz is set to make his own highly anticipated return to MMA after a four-year hiatus. He will step into the cage against Mike Perry on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. This event, promoted by MVP and Netflix, will also feature a headline bout between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.
Meanwhile, Conor McGregor, who has been inactive for nearly five years, is also slated for his comeback in July during International Fight Week. This looming return had previously fueled speculation among fans about a potential third fight with Diaz, which would settle their 1-1 rivalry.
Diaz Explains Why He Declined the McGregor Trilogy for Now
During a recent discussion with Theo Von, Diaz provided insight into his decision to forgo a trilogy bout with “The Notorious” at this time. While open to a future confrontation, Diaz stressed that the timing must be right for both fighters. He specifically stated he does not wish to serve as McGregor’s initial opponent following his long layoff and recent two-fight losing streak.
“Me and Conor will fight again when the time is right, but it’s going to be when we’re both on the uprise, not when someone’s dying out. I’m not nobody’s comeback story.”
Diaz further disclosed that the UFC had initially proposed a McGregor fight for his return, even over other potential matchups like Charles Oliveira. However, Diaz’s current focus is on a challenging and engaging opponent like Mike Perry, for whom he feels genuine enthusiasm.
“They [UFC] wanted me to come back and fight Conor McGregor… And they were like, okay, we want you to come back and maybe later we can do that. You know who is doing a good job, almost close to the same amount offer – Mike Perry, who’s the most violent mf. I’m more enthusiastic to get up and running and get ready to train for this mf who’s going to knock me out, or I’m gonna knock him out.”
Diaz’s comments highlight his preference for a competitive encounter where both athletes are performing at their peak, rather than a fight designed primarily to boost one individual’s return narrative.