5 potential opponents for Nate Diaz

#4 Al Iaquinta

Al Iaquinta is cut from the same cloth as Diaz - making them a great potential match

When it comes to fighters who are cut from the same cloth as Nate Diaz, names like Conor McGregor and Jorge Masvidal might come to mind, but the guy who reminds me most of Stockton’s favourite son when it comes to his sheer aura is Al Iaquinta.

‘Ragin Al’ is as wild outside of the Octagon as he is inside it, and he rivals Diaz himself when it comes to his devil-may-care attitude when it comes to the UFC itself.

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The issue with this potential fight? Probably weight. Iaquinta has never fought outside of 155lbs in the UFC before, while it seems unlikely that at 34 years old, Diaz will ever make it back down to that weight again.

But I actually don’t think it’d be a problem. Iaquinta is a man who took a fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov on one day’s notice – I hardly think he’d have any qualms about moving to 170lbs for a clash with Diaz.

With his boxing skill, great cardio and heavy hands, Iaquinta would undoubtedly be a fun match for Diaz – and despite his solid wrestling he’s unlikely to shoot for takedowns either, making him the kind of opponent Diaz would love to face. The pre-fight trash talk alone would make this one worth it, however unlikely it sounds.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram