Nate Diaz has a new target for 2026, and it\u2019s none other than Paddy Pimblett.<\/p>\n
Diaz hasn\u2019t fought since winning a 2024 majority decision<\/a> in boxing over Jorge Masvidal, putting the two fighters at 1-1 across two different combat sports. While the event was a big success at the gate with over 13,000 people in attendance, Diaz still ended up getting stiffed by Fanmio to the tune of $9 million dollars.<\/a><\/p>\n That would sour anyone on freelance fighting outside of the UFC, and since then Diaz has been pushing to return<\/a> to the MMA promotion and finish off his fighting career with a run for the belt. The UFC doesn\u2019t seem particularly interested in the 40-year-old, but that hasn\u2019t stopped Nate from calling out a new UFC target.<\/p>\n \u201cS\u2014, I\u2019m looking at Pimblett,\u201d he said when asked who he was fighting next. \u201cProbably Pimblett.\u201d<\/p>\n We\u2019re not sure if Diaz is aware, but Paddy Pimblett is a little busy right now. The Liverpool UFC star is set to face Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title on Paramount+ in January at UFC 324.<\/a> If he wins, he\u2019ll face Ilia Topuria to unify the belts in the summer in one of the biggest fights the UFC could put together. Why deviate from that plan for Nate?<\/p>\n Truth be told, we don\u2019t hate a Diaz vs. Pimblett fight. It\u2019d be a wonderful consolation fight if \u201cThe Baddy\u201d falls to Justin Gaethje on January 24th. But the UFC and Nate are not on good terms, despite the lip service<\/a> CEO Dana White pays to Diaz. They tried to destroy him<\/a> on the way out by repeatedly matching him up against Khamzat Chimaev. And we\u2019ve heard from many sources that Nate has been persona non grata with the promotion since fighting (and losing to) Jake Paul.<\/p>\n That was echoed by Jake Paul\u2019s promotional partner at Most Valuable Promotions, Nakisa Bidarian.<\/p>\n