Nate Diaz plans move to boxing: I want to get out of MMA

While Nate Diaz may be regarded as one of the most popular MMA fighters at the present time, the Stockton superstar doesn’t appear to have plans of sticking around.

Earlier this year, Diaz picked up arguably the biggest win of his career as he rocked, and then submitted UFC superstar Conor McGregor on just two-weeks notice in the main event of UFC 196. Following the monumental win, Diaz met McGregor in the Octagon for a second time at UFC 202 back in August. In that fight, McGregor ultimately secured himself a majority decision win to avenge the first loss of his UFC career.

On the heels of Conor McGregor‘s historic UFC 205 win over Eddie Alvarez, it was revealed that McGregor would be taking some time off due to the upcoming birth of his firstborn child. In the meantime, McGregor was granted a boxing license in California, adding fuel to a potential McGregor vs. Mayweather boxing match.

The way Nate Diaz sees it, the move is a publicity stunt, however his plans to get a boxing license aren’t. He spoke to ESNews:

“I think the whole thing is a publicity stunt,”

“I’m going to get my boxing license in Cali and Nevada,” Diaz told Seckbach. “I tried to get out of my UFC contract years ago. I had guys try to buy out my UFC contract so I could box – years ago. But the UFC wouldn’t let me go. So I have been stuck in these contracts and stuff.”

“Now [McGregor] is talking about this Mayweather stuff and it’s getting all this hype, and I’m like ‘Do your thing with Mayweather.’ But if they let him out to box, then I’m boxing somebody too – somebody mainstream on the same card. Or another card – whatever.”

“But I’m not doing it for a publicity stunt, I’m doing it because I love the sport of boxing. I want to win, I want to win fights for real and get out of this MMA shit that I’m not even into anyway. I don’t think they want me in there anyway, so I might as well stay out.”