Nate Diaz believes win or lose, he’s fighting for the welterweight title after UFC 263.
Diaz is set to return to the Octagon in a five-round welterweight bout against Leon Edwards. It’s an intriguing matchup and although Dana White has said Colby Covington is next, Diaz believes win or lose, his next fight is for the belt.
“I don’t care if I lose, I’m (still) fighting for the title,” Diaz said to Rolling Stone. “The plan is win here and then we’ll see who’s next for me. … I’m rolling with the punches right now, but whatever I’m going to do it’s going to be bigger than anything anybody is going to do.”
Although Diaz thinks win or lose his next fight is for the belt, it’s unlikely he would actually get the title shot. However, if he pulls off the big upset and defeats Edwards there is no question he would be next.
Diaz is a massive star and if he beats Edwards who’s considered a top contender a bout against Kamaru Usman would be massive. However, beating Edwards is easier said than done.
“He’s the top guy, he’s the guy who has been beating everybody, so why wouldn’t I fight the best guy?” Diaz said. “It’s impressive when somebody can win that many times in a row in the big show… He knows how to win and he knows how to get it done, so it’s going to be a serious, but not serious fight. I gotta kill the motherf*cker.”
Nate Diaz enters his UFC 263 fight in Glendale, Arizona coming off a TKO loss to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244 in November of 2019 for the BMF belt. Prior to that, he returned to the Octagon after his back-to-back fights against Conor McGregor and earned a decision win over Anthony Pettis at UFC 241.
