Bold claim: Nate Diaz isn’t a gangster—despite his toughest-guy image, Jon Jones has questioned that label.
Diaz built a massive following by leaning into a gritty, streetwise persona, paired with a fight style that fans loved to watch. He delivered memorable showdowns with stars like Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone, cementing his place in UFC lore. Yet amid the chatter about who’s the greatest of all time, Jones—widely regarded by many as the sport’s finest fighter—offers a different take on Diaz’s persona.
What’s your favorite moment from Diaz’s 15-year UFC run?
The Stockton native broke into the UFC by winning The Ultimate Fighter in 2007 and retired from the last official UFC bout with a win at UFC 279 in 2022.
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Jones on Diaz’s true nature: not a gangster
Earlier this year, a pair of UFC legends were unexpectedly lined up to face off—elsewhere than the Octagon. Diaz and Jones were slated to co-host against each other on Alf Reality, the Russian version of The Ultimate Fighter.
Shortly after filming began, Diaz left the show following an altercation with a contestant, which set off a feud with Dagestani fighters in Thailand at the time. Having spent considerable time with Diaz in Thailand, Jones arrived at a surprising conclusion: Diaz isn’t a gangster.
“Nate is not a gangster. He’s a professional athlete,” Jones told Sports 24. “He’s a father, a coach, a business owner, an entrepreneur, a leader who hires many people. He may smoke weed and flip a middle finger now and then, but the guy is far from a gangster and a genuinely great person. It’s unfortunate he left the show, and honestly, I think if they had fought off camera, it would have been bad news for Zadik—because that’s Nate Diaz.”
Diaz’s pursuit of a return to the UFC
Diaz fought the last bout of his UFC stint in 2022, earning a dramatic victory over Tony Ferguson. Since then, he has kept the door open for a comeback, while testing his limits in boxing against Jake Paul and Jorge Masvidal. Recently, Diaz signaled a target for a UFC return: a potential bout with rising British star Paddy Pimblett.
Would Diaz ever come back to the UFC, and who should he face if he does?
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Even with maintaining a cordial relationship with the UFC, the likelihood of a comeback remains uncertain. What’s your take on Diaz’s future—will he return, and if so, who should he fight first? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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