UFC welterweight fighter Nate Diaz has dismissed rumors of a contract renewal with the UFC, and kept his tabs on a move to Bellator
Looks like Stockton MMA star Nate Diaz has made up his mind to leave the UFC and test the free agency waters. UFC president Dana White had earlier last month hinted that the organization will probably work on a revised contract with the younger Diaz brother.
Nate Diaz last stepped inside the octagon at UFC 263 against Leon Edwards and almost grabbed victory from the loss clutches, after being dominated for four and a half rounds.
Former UFC fighter Yancy Madeiros, a longtime friend and training partner of Diaz, made his switch to Bellator after the UFC cut him from the roaster. Yancy had previously done several camps at Stockton in the Nick Diaz Academy.
Bellator 279 is scheduled to be held in April in Hawaii, where hometown favorite Yancy will compete against Emmanuel Sanchez. Nate Diaz posted a tweet expressing his desire to fight on the card, and teasing the current contract situation with the UFC.
He captioned the post,
I m tryin get on this @BellatorMMA card in April wit my boy @ymedeiros in Hawaii Wasup wit @BellatorMMA
UFC superstar Nate Diaz trains with jiu-jitsu master Jean Jacques Machado ahead of his rumored fight against Dustin Poirier
One of the most important reasons why Nate Diaz has developed such a cult following is because he has stayed true to his roots. Nate started training jiu-jitsu under Cesar Gracie and never fails to give credits to his team, whenever he gets the opportunity.
A third degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu himself, Diaz trains with the likes of Kron Gracie [one of the greatest jiu-jitsu competitors of all time] on a regular basis. He even gives back to the jiu-jitsu community by organizing seminars and workshops across the USA.
Nate Diaz posted a picture with the BJJ legend and captioned the post, ‘Good training at the OG @jeanjacquesmachado school while In la thanks for having us and for the great training 💯’
Machado is famously known to be the instructor of world-renowned podcaster Joe Rogan, and founder of 10th Planet jiu-jitsu, Eddie Bravo. Tony Ferguson is one of the most familiar faces to train out of 10th Planet. Machado is a student of Rickson Gracie, the youngest red belt in jiu-jitsu [highest degree ranking widely regarded as grandmaster]
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