Not a contradiction unless you’re the type of fan who only roots for whomever you think is currently the best–aka a “fair-weather fan”
True, I guess you could be a Nate Diaz fan and think he sucks.
of course he was coached, and if I was the promoter I’d coach him to say exactly what he did. It benefits the UFC 100% either way. Either Nate says yes and they get the fight, or he says no and the UFC can use it as a reason to kick him on the way out when he doesn’t sign with them again and is ready to box Jake Paul…because at that point it’s about making money and avoiding tough fights, Nate didn’t want to fight these savages etc
The UFC played their hand perfectly.
That’s a mean way of putting it. I’d say “past-his-prime” and “too small”
Fair enough.
“Can’t wrestle”, “gets out struck by other strikers”, “can only beat handpicked opponents that will sit there and play his game his way”.
The fact Jake Paul is even in the mix and actually a serious consideration for people who want to elevate their boxing or fight game presencs is a travesty. But that’s just the world we live in today whoever can tilt that needle and Jake Paul is definitely tilting that needle
I don’t know why they would want this fight for last fight on contract.
Nate costs money but is a big seller. Give him winnable exciting fights
Nate should get loser from gaetche fight
“Has never beaten a legit welterweight, so what’s the point of fighting Khamzat?”
It’s kind of like how I was a huge Sakuraba fan, but didn’t want him to fight Cro Cop. It didn’t mean I thought he sucked, just that the fight wasn’t competitive.
If you took Nate’s marketability away he wouldn’t be in the UFC at all. That is his actual talent level right now. He looks good when he loses and has moments but doesn’t get the W against legit talent. He has a gimmick that he is riding til the wheels fall off. A lot like Ken Shamrock was late in his career except Nate fights his heart out IN the cage once he gets the fight.
There is no point in him fighting Khamzat except for Dana not wanting Nate to possible slap a W on a guy and then go box Jake Paul. Dana wants Nate’s role in this to be to put the organization over (willing or unwilling) in his last fight.
Lmao that’s not true. Don’t boost
Who the fuck is “you guys”? I never said Nate was anything more than a journeyman or gatekeeper. The fact he gave Connor so many problems is what I find hilarious, but anyway, I don’t want to just watch Nate get smashed, I want to see awesome fights where he is evenly matched. Just admit you are a Kham ball licker who wants him fed easy fights and call it a day.
I know, I’m just joshing with the fanboys.
Good of you to take it in stride.
Makes sense since Nate is also an old broke down fighter
Message to the UG
“Here’s the moral of the story: all these people are f—ing morons and have no idea what they’re talking about. I actually run the biggest f—ing combat sports business on planet f—king Earth. So, shut the f—k up and let me do my job!”
It actually makes sense on Chimaev’s end too…If he’s having a hard time finding a ranked opponent, but wants a marquee match up, what do you do? Nobody outside of Magny seems willing to fight him right now. That’s a decent scrap, a ranked opponent, but it won’t move him up the ladder much. Diaz, while not ranked and a lesser opponent, brings a platform with more eyeballs. The casuals know Diaz. A win there, gives him a bump guaranteed.
It will be a shame to see Nate go out with his first submission loss & his last fight.
Nate vaguely shot down the idea via a Russell Westbrook Meme on his Instagram Story lol Personally I’d hate to see him fight Chimaev. I just see a repeat of Nate fighting Rory.
Nothing wrong with two LW’s fighting at 170 and not killing themselves to make weight. If it’s two LW’s on their way up the rankings to a title fight, then yes they need to fight at 155. Nate’s fights these days are basically just feature bouts…the weight they fight at doesn’t matter as much.
My issue isn’t 155ers fighting at 170, my issue is that Nate keeps calling guys out that have never expressed any desire to fight at 170…and Nate has fought more at 170 late in his career than he has at 155, so is Nate even a 155er anymore?
Conor used to fight at 145, if he started calling out 145ers for fights at 155, how would the UG react? It would be all “LOL this pussy knows he can’t beat guys his weight” etc.
Nate hasn’t made 155 since 2015, and his last 5 fights have been at 170…with the last 3 being against guys who were ranked 170 pounders at the time he fought them. I think calling out Tony Ferguson is a little weird. Tony hasn’t won a round in his last 3 fights, and is a true 155er. It’s a fun fight for sure, and I’d have no issue with the booking, but it’s weird for a bigger guy to call out the smaller dude and ask for it in the higher weight class.
Imagine Tony Ferguson calling out Jeremy Stephens or something…it’d be odd.