Nate Diaz learned a lot from his time as Conor McGregor’s fiercest rival.
Firstly, he discovered that the UFC’s biggest stars can show up to press conferences with no repercussions and, secondly, he found out about the importance of proper promotion.
Diaz always had the potential to become a massive draw for the UFC but it wasn’t until after his short-notice victory over McGregor at UFC 196 in 2016 that he crossed over into some mainstream popularity and felt what it was like to be pushed by the organisation.
The long-awaited return of the Stockton lightweight was confirmed earlier this week and it will be the streaking Dustin Poirier who will share the Octagon with Diaz for the first time in over two years.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmCA4_zl5Vi/?hl=en&taken-by=ufceurope
Diaz arrived late for the UFC’s 25th anniversary press conference on Friday night, squared off with his upcoming opponent and then took his seat, where he answered several questions.
Just when it seemed like the press conference had come to an end, UFC President Dana White revealed that he had one last video package to show the fans in attendance.
It was confirmed that the lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and McGregor would be taking place at UFC 229 on October 6.
But when McGregor’s face flashed on the big screen at the Orpheum Theatre, Diaz took it as his cue to exit stage left.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STwHOFKeuM8
Clearly unhappy with the fact that ‘The Notorious’ was somewhat stealing his thunder without even being present, Diaz voiced his anger towards the UFC in the below tweet.
I’m not fighting on that show fuk the @ufc
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) August 3, 2018
“We’ll see in a bit if I’m even fighting. Shit, they’d better start acting right. They brought me to this press conference late,” Diaz said, according to the Calgary Sun’s Danny Austin.
It’s obvious that the hatchet isn’t fully buried between Diaz and McGregor but a rubber match isn’t exactly a far-fetched notion because a victory or a defeat for both men in their next outing – should Diaz decide to fight – sets up the realisation of a trilogy and provides some closure to one of the greatest feuds in mixed martial arts history.
