UFC CEO Dana White and Nate Diaz are cool despite some recent news that shook up the MMA world.
Many were surprised when Most Valuable Promotions, which is run by Jake Paul, announced that Diaz has signed on for a showdown with Mike Perry on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano undercard. It’ll be Diaz’s first pro MMA bout since he defeated Tony Ferguson under the UFC banner back in 2022.
Speaking to reporters during the UFC London post-fight presser, White insisted that he has no hard feelings over Diaz inking a deal with MVP (via MMAJunkie).
“He came in and met with me a couple of weeks ago. We had a good time, and I think Nate just got an offer he couldn’t refuse,” White said. “I haven’t talked to him since then, but I’m happy for him.”
Whether or not White and Diaz could do business together once again down the line remains to be seen. It could boil down to how the Stockton native performs on May 16.
“I don’t know,” White said. “Let him do his thing. Let’s see how the fight plays out, and we’ll see what happens.”
Diaz has long been known to do things his way. Back in 2024, he had a boxing match against his rival Jorge Masvidal. Following a 2019 doctor’s stoppage loss to “Gamebred” under MMA rules, Diaz got a measure of a revenge by scoring a majority decision in the rematch.
Some MMA fans were hoping that the UFC brass would be able to pull off a lucrative trilogy fight between Diaz and Conor McGregor. Both men have showed mutual interest in a third showdown over the years, but it hasn’t materialized up to this point.
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