‘HOLDING ME HOSTAGE’: Nate Diaz feels caged-in by UFC contract

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MMA star Nate Diaz wants out of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but he claims he can’t leave because of his current contract.

During an interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, the 6-foot, 170-pound fighter said he’s ready and willing to tangle in the Octagon with anyone in order to finish his current contract.

Diaz said he is interested in branching out into other areas of combat sports and every time he’s asked about having a fight, the UFC would rather offer him a contract extension instead.

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“I was trying to get this s*** on the road, but they don’t want me out of contract and they’re keeping me in there and they’re holding me hostage,” said Diaz. “And I want out.”

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Diaz’s current MMA record is 21-13-0. He last fought on June 12, 2021, losing to Leon Edwards at UFC 263. Diaz claims he has one fight left on his current deal and was offered a bout against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 276, which was apparently shot down by his potential opponent.

The fighter proposed fights against the likes of Tony Ferguson and Vicente Luque but the requests have fallen on deaf ears. He thinks the only way to exit the UFC is to participate in a trilogy fight with Conor McGregor.

Diaz said it’s not about the money, rather he just wants to “go do different stuff” such as boxing and jiu-jitsu that’s outside the UFC realm.