‘Can I go now?’ – Nate Diaz reacts after Dana White denies he is holding the MMA legend hostage amid his repeated UFC release requests
Nate Diaz has taken to social media to react after UFC president Dana White denied claims that he is holding the fan favourite fighter hostage.
Diaz hasn’t fought since falling to a lopsided decision defeat to Leon Edwards at UFC 263 in June 2021 despite loudly campaigning for his last fight on his current contract with the promotion.
On Tuesday, Diaz gave an explosive interview amid his ongoing contract drama with the MMA leader who he claims are holding him hostage because they want him to fight Conor McGregor before he leaves.
After UFC on ABC 3, the UFC boss denied Diaz’s claims and revealed that he has to offer his athletes at least three fights per year or pay them their purse due to the nature of contracts they sign.
“I’ve said this a million times and I’ll say it again, we can’t hold guys hostage. It’s not possible, okay? I owe you three fights a year,” White said. “If I don’t fight you three times a year I have to pay you. How could I hold him hostage?
“We’re going to get him a fight. I have to get him three fights a year. I offer fights, he either accepts them or turns them down. Obviously, I’m not paying him, so I’ve offered him fights.”
Diaz told the UFC that the only two fighters worthy of facing him are heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and middleweight king Israel Adesanya.
The MMA promoter revealed he was left dumbfounded after the 37-year-old welterweight brought up Ngannou as a potential opponent during one of their meetings.
“What should I say to that? Imagine having a conversation like that. Nate Diaz vs. Francis Ngannou. What should I say? I was just standing there like, ‘holy s***, this is crazy,’” White said.
After getting wind of White’s comments about him Diaz took to Twitter to claim he hasn’t been offered a fight for nine months before once again asking for his release from the UFC.
“Dana said Francis Ngannou was injured and couldn’t fight right now Idk why he was so confused in interview. And in the last 9 months I been offered 0 fights and I asked for 5 legitimate opponents .. Thanks u for the kind words can I go now,” he wrote.
Diaz is desperate to leave the UFC to explore the lucrative free agency market that could include a fight with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
‘The Problem Child’ is due to fight Hasim Rahman Jr. on August 6 and in an ideal world he would box Diaz later this year, but first, the California native must get out of his UFC contract.