'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Nate Diaz wants to fight out the last fight on his UFC contract and leave the company. According to Michael Bisping, he'll have to get through Khamzat Chimaev to make that happen.
Bisping gave his thoughts on the Diaz situation during a new live chat with fans on YouTube. When asked what was next for the younger Diaz brother, 'The Count' said he expected to see Nate Diaz vs. Khamzat Chimaev added to the UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards card in August. He said:
"The reality is... yeah Nate Diaz has been great for the UFC. He's provided so much entertainment, he's been one of the biggest stars for a long long time. But he's leaving. So they're not going to - or I wouldn't, I can't speak for the UFC - you're going to give him a very competitive fight. You're not going to give him a fight that sets him up for even more stardom that he can have greater success outside the UFC."
"If you're going to have to pay him what he's worth, which is a lot of money, then you're going to give him a real fight, and Khamzat Chimaev would tick all those boxes. And then God forbid Leon vs. Usman, somebody gets injured, there's the perfect backup fight."
Watch Michael Bisping discuss Nate Diaz's future below:
There is definitely something disturbing about the idea of the UFC trying to bury Diaz against the toughest opponent they can find for him just so he leaves the promotion with less star power. However, it does track with how the UFC has historically played hardball with fighters who are looking to fight elsewhere.
The UFC has offered Chimaev to Diaz at least twice and only have to offer Diaz three fights a year. If he refuses the match-ups they make for him, they don't legally have to offer him any alternatives. That may be why Diaz is putting so much pressure on them via social media. Public pressure is one of the only tools he has left to get a worthy fight for himself.
Nate Diaz probably should fight Jake Paul next, says Dana White
In the latest back-and-forth between Nate Diaz and UFC President Dana White, Diaz suggested that he wanted to be released from the UFC so he could box Jake Paul. A frustrated White said that the bout made sense given Diaz's recent record.
"Nate's won one fight in five years, so we're trying to figure this thing out with him. He probably should go on and fight Jake Paul. That's a fight that makes sense."
Unfortunately for Diaz, it's unlikely the UFC will release him, and with a big money fight like Conor McGregor possible sometime in the future, there's little incentive for the promotion to hurry up and book Diaz either.
Do check out the video below for other updates in the MMA world:
