Nate Diaz has made one thing clear, if a trilogy fight with Conor McGregor ever happens, it won’t be right now.
For years, a third fight between the two rivals felt inevitable. They split their iconic 2016 clashes, with Diaz securing a submission win in their first meeting before McGregor edged the rematch by decision. But despite renewed talk of McGregor’s return in 2026, Diaz isn’t interested in running it back under the current circumstances.
Speaking recently, Diaz explained why the timing feels wrong.
“I want to fight the best of the best when they are the best of the best,” Diaz said. “Conor’s great, but I’m not trying to go kill off Conor when he’s on his last dying fcking leg, literally. That’s fcked up. I’m not trying to be the ending to some f*cker’s story like that.”
Instead of chasing nostalgia, Nate Diaz wants meaningful fights that still carry real danger and relevance. With McGregor coming off injuries and a long layoff, Diaz believes the matchup no longer fits that standard.
“At the same time, I ain’t trying to get f*cked up by nobody who just got knocked out and broke his leg,” Diaz added. “This guy’s down and out, now he’s nothing but motivated to fight me because who else are you going to fight?”
Diaz’s focus has already shifted elsewhere. He is set to face Mike Perry on May 16, on a card headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano. For Diaz, that matchup brings the kind of intensity he’s looking for at this stage of his career.
He also didn’t shy away from calling out Charles Oliveira, making it clear that a fight for the “BMF” spotlight interests him more than revisiting old rivalries.
“I want to fight the best of the best when they’re at their best,” Diaz continued. “That’s what matters. Timing is everything in this game.”
While Diaz hasn’t ruled out a UFC return, he insists it will be on his terms. Bigger offers may be on the table, but without the right opponent, he’s willing to walk away.
