Nate Diaz opens door to UFC return with bold declaration

'Sincerely, the Real Champ!'

Dana White predicted Nate Diaz would return to the UFC in 2018 and he could be on to something. Diaz has not fought in The Octagon since his UFC 202 defeat to Conor McGregor in August 2016. The Stockton native was paid an up-front fee of $2m to take on McGregor in a rematch of their UFC 196 bout, which he won by submission, as well as a slice of the pay-per-view takings. Since then, Diaz has been content to sit it out and wait for either a UFC title shot or another hefty pay-day. Fights against Eddie Alvarez, Rafael Dos Anjos and Tony Ferguson have been floated but Diaz has burst each balloon. Now, it seems, he is ready to return. Diaz was very active on social media, on Tuesday, as he posted several photos and videos to his various accounts. He saved his best until last, however. Accompanying an image from the UFC 202 press conference - the one that descended into chaos, with bottles and cans being thrown - he declared:

'Sick of sitting around waiting for you f**kers to do shit. There's no excitement in this fight shit step your games up I'll see u around may, June. Sincerely, The Real Champ.'

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeUKqYtH-uL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_legacy International Fight Week should be taking place, in Las Vegas, in July but Diaz could well be back in action by then. With Ferguson fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov for the supposed undisputed lightweight title on April 7, in Brooklyn, and McGregor also tipped to return, later this year, the 155lbs division could get very interesting in 2018.