Dana White (C) separates Nate Diaz (L) and UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor (R) as they face off during their weigh-in for UFC 202 (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Free agent Nate Diaz welcomes trilogy fight with Conor McGregor despite expiration of his UFC contract
With his removal from the UFC roster on Tuesday, Nate Diaz is now a free agent, as confirmed by UFC officials to MMA Fighting. ESPN has officially confirmed the news. Diaz can now negotiate his own fights without interference.
On September 10, Diaz fought Tony Ferguson in his last bout for UFC 279. Diaz’s agent, Zach Rosenfield, claims that the exclusive negotiating period between UFC and Diaz has come to an end. However, UFC fans should not give up on hopes of a trilogy fight according to Diaz’s team.
“We are now going to begin the process of Nate’s free agency,” Rosenfield told ESPN.
“This does not shut the door on Diaz continuing to stay in the UFC,” Diaz’s representative, Zach Rosenfield stated to MMAFighting. “With the pending return of Conor McGregor, that fight still remains extremely appealing to both fans, the promotion, as well as Diaz and McGregor. But what is now clear is that the long-awaited Nathan Diaz free agent sweepstakes has begun.”
Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor engaged in two thrilling contests that went down in the history books of the promotion. At UFC 196, Diaz handed McGregor his first loss under the UFC banner. Five months later in the rematch, ‘The Notorious’ avenged his loss at UFC 202 and went on to face Eddie Alvarez for the double-champ status at UFC 205.
Conor McGregor tweeted on Tuesday that he is being sued for defamation of character by a former teammate and friend Artem Lobov. Earlier this week, Lobov filed a lawsuit against McGregor for millions of dollars, claiming that he was instrumental in helping McGregor launch his popular Proper 12 whiskey brand.
McGregor and his business partners sold a controlling interest in Proper 12 to Proximo Spirits in 2021 for $600 million. Lobov claims an agreement for a share of the profits was broken once the sale was finalized, and he is now demanding 5% of the money made.
The Irishman launched a tweet issuing a challenge to Lobov for a fight to settle the dispute:
“This is a call out to Artem, the fanny, fairy pad, Lobov. I’m challenging you to a fight tonight 10:30 p.m. I’ll meet you down at SBG Concorde and we’ll fight for the whole lot. Going through having lawyers message me about defamation and all this suing and all. You’re a little blouse, mate. I’ll see you SBG Concord tonight at 10:30 p.m. and I’ll fight you for the whole lot. Answer this f****** call out, you little blouse.”
The tweets have since been deleted, and Lobov is yet to reply to the challenge.
Nate Diaz is officially a free agent now after the negotiation clause in his UFC contract expired.
The Stockton native can now test the free agency waters and explore business options outside the UFC. Reacting to the heated dispute between former friends now turned foes, Diaz wrote:
“So is Artem gonna show up to the big fight or what ?”
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