Look, in MMA, we all know that unless a fighter says “I am permanently retiring, as you can see from this contract with the devil I’ve signed in my own blood,” you can never be truly sure that they’re actually retiring. But a post from Nate Diaz last night is sure raising the question of whether or not we’ll be seeing the “BMF” belt contender in the Octagon again.
Diaz suffered a controversial loss to Jorge Masvidal last weekend after a doctor’s stoppage due to cuts Diaz suffered above and below his eye. Diaz was firm in his belief that he could continue, but Dana White agreed with the decision that was made. White also didn’t seem too keen for a rematch between the two. You can imagine, then, that Diaz may be a bit frustrated.
In an Instagram post, though, Diaz implied that, at least for now, he’s stepping away from fighting:
“F*ck a rematch this sh*t was over before it started
I’m goin on out on tour
Peace out fight game ✌🏼 “
Now, Diaz didn’t specifically mention that he was retiring, but a lot of people seem to have taken his message to mean his departure from fighting would be permanent. Diaz, however, isn’t a stranger to taking a lot of time off from competition — he’s only recently made his return after a three-year hiatus. There’s also the possibility that he’s using the announcement as a negotiation tactic to get the UFC to offer what he believes would be a better deal for him.
Fans will be watching closely for more clues or confirmation about Diaz’s status as a fighter within the UFC.
