Nate Diaz reveals why he took a three-year break from the UFC during the height of his popularity following his 2016 rematch with Conor McGregor

Nate Diaz revealed that after his rematch with Conor McGregor, he took a three-year break from UFC competition due to a lack of interesting opponents.

After years of being a favorite among the sport’s hardcore fan base, Diaz was catapulted to mainstream superstardom when he became the first fighter to defeat McGregor in the UFC in 2016.

While initially slated to rematch on the historic UFC 200 card later that year, the pair would instead face off again at UFC 202 in the headline bout at T-Mobile Arena.

The fight would break the UFC’s longstanding pay-per-view record, as McGregor exacted his revenge by raising his hand via majority decision after a five-round back-and-forth fight.

Despite being arguably the promotion’s second biggest star at the time, Diaz would opt to take an extended break from the competition, explaining that there was a lack of interesting matchups available to him.

But after a rematch with the Irishman later that year, Diaz would take an extended break from competition

“When I fought Conor and didn’t fight for three years, it wasn’t because I was sitting there waiting for Conor,” Diaz told the Mirror.

“They were like ‘he’s waiting for Conor. I’m not waiting for Conor, I’m waiting for something cool.

“No one was on level, anyone worth fighting, when I finally came back Masvidal had knocked Ben Askren out with a knee and I was like ‘that was cool’ that was the only cool thing that happened while I was gone.

‘So what happened next? I had to come back, they had to make a belt and I had to fight Masvidal. After that there was nothing cool since either, who should I fight after Masvidal? Leon Edwards? I fought him and now he’s the champion.’

After an extended absence from the Octagon, Diaz returned in 2019 to face former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.

Pettis entered the fight on a wave of momentum after a shock KO victory over Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, but Diaz ultimately secured the win by using a vastly improved clinching game to negate Pettis’ explosive attack.

The win prepared the Stockton native for a showdown with Jorge Masvidal, with the UFC creating the symbolic ‘BMF’ title for the pair to compete in the main event of UFC 244, with Masvidal emerging victorious after a doctor ruled that Diaz couldn’t continue after that. get a cut.

The former title challenger returned to the Octagon in 2019 to face Anthony Pettis

Victory over Pettis saw him face off with Jorge Masvidal for the inaugural BMF Championship

Diaz revealed that a lack of interesting matchups prevented him from getting into action sooner

“I fought against Pettis, Masvidal and Leon,” he continued.

And Pettis had knocked (Stephen) Thompson out, there’s nothing cool about it. Then Jake Paul came out and talked a load of crap and I was like ‘oh there’s something cool to do’ and why not do the tightest s*** if you’re going to do something.

“All these fighters don’t know what’s going on because they’re not real fighters, they don’t know what’s going on. They don’t know what good entertainment is, what they want to watch. I want to see a good fight, people you want to see fight. Not a bunch of morons fighting.’

While long known for his boxing skills within MMA, Diaz will make his first professional foray into sweet science on Saturday night when he takes on social media star turned fighter Jake Paul.