Nate Diaz Wants UFC Title Return, Says Roster Lacks Buzz
Nate Diaz said in March 2025 that he wanted to return to the UFC for a title opportunity, but he did not name Conor McGregor as his target. Diaz said the roster lacked opponents who interested him. The comments revived talk about his future, not a confirmed UFC comeback or a booked trilogy.
In an interview with the Full Violence YouTube channel, Diaz said he wanted to go back to the UFC and pursue a title. He also criticized the promotion’s current roster, saying he did not see a compelling matchup. MMA Fighting reported his remarks on March 16, 2025. At the time, Diaz had not competed in the UFC since his 2022 submission win over Tony Ferguson, the last fight on his contract.
Diaz wanted a meaningful return
Diaz framed a comeback around a championship goal rather than simply returning for another bout. He said the fight needed to be meaningful and that the names available did not attract him. He did not announce negotiations, a date, or an opponent.
Diaz and McGregor had fought twice in 2016. Diaz took their first meeting at UFC 196 by second-round rear-naked choke after stepping in on short notice. McGregor won the rematch at UFC 202 by majority decision, leaving the series tied 1-1. That history makes a third fight an obvious subject for speculation, but Diaz’s March comments focused on the UFC roster and his desire for a title, not a specific callout to McGregor.
What the comments did—and did not—confirm
The interview confirmed that Diaz remained interested in competing and had a particular ambition for a possible UFC return. It did not confirm that the UFC had offered him a title fight or that officials were negotiating a McGregor trilogy. Nor did Diaz identify Jorge Masvidal, Leon Edwards, or Dustin Poirier as opponents in the interview.
For fans, the practical takeaway was simple: Diaz had not closed the door on the UFC, but he wanted an opponent and opportunity worth returning for. A trilogy with McGregor remained a fan-favorite possibility based on their 1-1 record, not an announced plan from Diaz in this interview.
