Nate Diaz has taken aim at the UFC, its new owners, Conor McGregor and pretty much everyone under the sun not directly related to him in a remarkable interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani.
Diaz touched upon a number of pressing topics in the sport at the moment, including its perceived stagnation since Conor McGregor began pursuing bigger bucks in a separate sport, and gratuitously called bullshit on any notion that his two-time former foe will ever throw down with Floyd Mayweather.
You can watch the full interview below.
Diaz: There’s not shit going on in MMA right now. It’s boring and everyone is complaining — like they should be. #TheMMAHour
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) May 3, 2017
Diaz: MMA is stagnant. It’s boring right now, so they need to talk about the hottest shit in the game, me and my brother. #TheMMAHour
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) May 3, 2017
Diaz: I don’t think the new owners have as many plans as Lorenzo and Dana. I think they’re just winging it and letting it sit. #TheMMAHour
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) May 3, 2017
Diaz denied that he has any intention of returning to the octagon in the near future, explaining how he's more than willing to sit out the year, and that he's taken out boxing licences in both California and Nevada.
When it was suggested to him that he might fight the UFC's no.2-ranked lightweight Tony Ferguson, his response was rather emphatic:
Why am I gonna cover for McGregor while he’s out making millions fighting boxers and shit? [McGregor and Ferguson] got the same manager. You’re working together against me. Fuck off.
Diaz then elaborated on his belief that the entire Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor saga was no more than a farce, describing the potential fight as "some phony shit."
He then reiterated that he believes he beat McGregor in their rematch last year, and that he has no intention of pleading for a rubber match with the Irish world champion.
I never said I was waiting for a third fight with McGregor. I already whipped Conor’s ass. He should want to fight me.
Conor is a fucking bitch. He got his ass whooped, he got choked. The decision went his way because the UFC wanted it. If Floyd beats Conor, who gives a shit? I already beat Conor’s ass. I got winner, if anything.
I’m the two-time world champ. I whipped his ass after Aldo and then again before Alvarez. I would like to be treated with a little more respect and be complimented. Can I get a compliment for whipping this guy’s ass?
Diaz then revealed - against the UFC's wishes, no less - that he had already both accepted and later rejected a fight with Tony Ferguson, explaining once more that he didn't want to beat Ferguson when McGregor should defend his belt against the 33-year-old in the near future.
He then suggested he'd beat McGregor in the ring as well as the octagon.
I’ve been offered a fight against Ferguson. For July 8. I wasn’t supposed to say that. But i was and I accepted and then rejected it.
Conor and Tony are on the same team. You phony ass fucks.
McGregor ain’t got no respect for anybody. That disrespectful little shit. I’ll whip your ass in a boxing match.
Diaz said he rejected the Ferguson fight after the fight because he doesn’t want to do McGregor's dirty work. #TheMMAHour
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) May 3, 2017
While proudly showing off his golden UFC glove-style bong, Diaz also defended his decision to vape at the UFC 202 press conference, telling Helwani that USADA had changed their regulations “compliments of your boy here."
You can watch Diaz's MMA Hour appearance below, or for more quotes head to MMA Fighting's Twitter account, as they've transcribed large segments of the interview in tweet form.
