09/14/2024
Is Nate Diaz an mma legend? 15 years, 27 fights. 32 fights between all ZUFFA owned brands (UFC/WEC/Strikeforce). Nate is the only man to compete for a UFC, WEC, BMF and TUF championship. Overall record of 21-13 A ZUFFA record of 20-12. 22-12 counting TUF.
Wins against
Conor McGregor- UFC double champ
Tony Ferguson- Interim UFC champ
Anthony Pettis- UFC/WEC champ
Michael Johnson
Gray Maynard x2 (had a title fight draw)
Jim Miller (most wins UFC history)
Donald Cerrone UFC/WEC title contender)
Takanori Gomi- Pride champion
Marcus Davis
Melvin Guillard
Josh Neer
Kurt Pelligrino
Junior Assuncao
Alvin Robinson
Manny Gamburyan- WEC title challenger
Nate kicked off his UFC career by winning TUF, and went on to become a long time contender, getting top ten wins in two weight classes under the UFC banner. After a long career he earned a title shot against then champion- Benson Henderson, but came up short. Though he was never a UFC champion he does have a win over a reigning UFC champion, Conor Mcgregor. Diaz stepped in on short notice to fight McGregor, the then 145 champion, after RDA pulled out of their 155 fight. The fight was contested at 170. After a shaky round 1, Nate came from behind to submit Conor, a move that turned Nate into an mma superstar.
The fight was the second most watched mma PPV ever, and their rematch was the most watched ever at the time. In the rematch, Nate lost a razor thin split decision. But Nate was set as a superstar.
He only competed 4 times in the next 6 years, a loss by controversial cut stoppage To Jorge Masvidal in the BMF title fight, a win over then top ten 170 fighter- Anthony Pettis, who had just KOed Stephen Thompson.
He was then scheduled to face future welterweight champion- Leon Edwards. Nate lost the first 4 rounds to the much larger opponent but won round 5 after rocking the future champion. Nate closed his UFC career beating former champion- Tony Ferguson by submission. The first man to submit Tony in the UFC, who is known for not giving up to deep submissions.
After his ufc career he rematched Jorge Masvidal in boxing and picked up a very close decision win.
Nate Diaz may never have won a world championship but his legacy will be one of the greatest fighters to never win a world championship, a man never afraid of a challenge and a man who can take a beating and never give up.
In my opinion, This resume makes Nate Diaz an mma legend and I think Diaz vs McGregor 3 could be next for both men.
-MMA Outsiders
