Nate Diaz is once again stirring debate as he eyes a dramatic UFC return, this time aiming for a clash with one of the sport’s rising stars. After leaving the UFC on his own terms in 2022 by submitting Tony Ferguson, Diaz pivoted to boxing, taking Jake Paul to a decision in 2023 and then rematching Jorge Masvidal last July. Now, at roughly 40 years old, he’s hinting at a comeback that could see him challenge at the top of the lightweight division.
Diaz has kept a solid rapport with the UFC and Dana White, so a return has never seemed completely off the table. In recent years, many fans expected a return fight against former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier, but that matchup never materialized. Instead, Diaz recently suggested a blockbuster bout with the popular Brit Paddy Pimblett, fueling plenty of chatter about what a comeback could look like.
Pimblett is slated to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in an interim lightweight title bout, a matchup set to unfold after Ilia Topuria reportedly steps away briefly from competition. Diaz’s Instagram post, in which he said, “S—, I’m looking at Pimblett. Probably Pimblett,” amplified the hype. Still, pairing Diaz with Pimblett for a title-contending moment seems unlikely given the current circumstances and the world of matchups surrounding Gaethje and Pimblett’s own trajectory.
Public reaction to Diaz’s naming of Pimblett as a potential opponent has been mixed. While many fans remain enthusiastic about a Diaz return, others deride the suggestion as unrealistic or delusional. Critics pointed to Diaz’s 2-2 record over his last four UFC fights, which included losses to Leon Edwards and Masvidal, as a reason to question the feasibility of a comeback against a top-10 opponent right away.
Questions for fans linger: Is Diaz truly positioned for a UFC return against a rising star, or would a different path—perhaps against a fellow veteran or a mid-tier challenger—make more sense as he works back toward top-flight competition? And what would a Diaz return mean for the current lightweight landscape if he did square off against Pimblett or another young standout? Share your take in the comments below.
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