Nate Diaz: ‘I was the biggest draw, I was the biggest everything in every weight class’ before Conor McGregor

By Russell Ess - August 9, 2016

There is no denying that Nate Diaz has an immense amount of star power, especially after beating the UFC’s superstar Conor McGregor.

Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor

However, Diaz said during the recent UFC 202 media conference call that he has always had the biggest following, until “The Notorious” came along.

“I was ahead of everybody as far as a following in the UFC: I was the biggest draw, I was the biggest everything in every weight class and then Conor came around and was the biggest draw, he was getting a big push, everybody was all about – the UFC was Conor McGregor,” Diaz said (transcribed by MMA Junkie). “If I’m going to fight somebody, it’s going to be someone that’s a big deal. I’m not signing fights just to fight because I could make just as much money outside of the ring as in the ring. If you’re going to have a big fight, then I’ll fight, but I’m not going to (expletive) around no more.”

While Diaz says that he was eventually going to get his big payday regardless of if he fought McGregor or not, he admitted that fighting the UFC featherweight champion at UFC 196 was indeed “a shortcut” to making what he felt he was worth.

What will happen after UFC 202? Will Nate Diaz’s stock rise even further with another win over Conor McGregor? Or will the UFC try to “weed” Diaz out like he has voiced previously? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section!


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Nate Diaz