Last month, UFC President Dana White pulled off a major coup when it was announced that after a four-year hiatus, Nick Diaz would be returning to the octagon to take on Jorge Masvidal at UFC 235. But it turns out that the champagne bottles may have been popped too soon.

Over the weekend, Diaz finally spoke about the reported fight, telling ESPN that he never accepted a bout with Masvidal or anyone else.

“I think it’s rude of the UFC to try and lowball me and expect me to negotiate a deal while I’m training for a fight,” Diaz said. “It’s not gonna go down like that. If anybody wants to fight me they know where to find me. I’m not a hard guy to find. Come get some.

”I have a lot going on trying to manage a few different businesses. Once things make sense for everybody in that they actually have some fighters that they respect and I respect, we can try and come to a deal and do a show. That’s how I feel.”

Diaz hasn’t fought since losing a decision to Anderson Silva at UFC 183. That decision was later overturned to a No Contest when Silva tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and Diaz tested positive for marijuana. Despite the long layoff though, Diaz remains one of the most popular fighters in MMA. He has used that popularity to expand into other business ventures and as a result, Diaz has made it clear he doesn’t need to come back to fighting, so if the UFC wants him, they will need to make it worth his while.

“As soon as I am in a good place with what I’m working on and things look the way it should, I’ll be happy to give the fans what they need,” Diaz said. “But I think they will be OK for now with what’s out there. There aren’t any fights for me until someone stands out.

”I’ll fight if they can be more reasonable, but, really, I didn’t even talk about what it would or could [take]. They are the one’s tripping.”

The UFC has historically had a difficult time negotiating with both Diaz brothers, but in the end, a deal usually gets made. Sometimes it just takes the UFC offering up the biggest fight possible and it sounds like that could be the case here as well, since Diaz seems extremely confident he would beat current welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.

“I’ll walk through Woodley,” Diaz said. “He knows it. I didn’t need to say [in response to him]. That man has a life. I fight for one, like I always have.”

Woodley has been very vocal about wanting to fight Diaz since he won the belt in 2016. He is tentatively planning to defend his title against Colby Covington early next year but seems very willing to change his plans if the UFC offers him Diaz instead.

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MUST-READ STORIES

Results. Al Iaquinta upsets Kevin Lee in the final UFC on FOX card.

Results. Michael Chandler reclaims lightweight title in hard-fought battle with Brent Primus at Bellator 212.

Results. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane submits Valerie Letourneau to retain title at Bellator 213.

Results. Jinh Yu Frey outpoints Minna Grusander again to retain atomweight title.

Emotion. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane talks emotion of winning in Hawaii at Bellator 213.

Loss. ‘Devastated’ Kevin Lee thought he won first three rounds against Al Iaquinta.

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VIDEO STEW

Free fight.

Crazy MMA records.

T-Wood on Fair Game.

FIGHT.

TTTHS.

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LISTEN UP

6th Round. Immediate post-fight reaction of UFC on FOX 31.

Severe MMA. Discussing the action-packed weekend in fight sports.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Statement.

Khabib.

Statement.

Confidence.

Good plan.

Handling it well.

Do it.

Ouch.

Juan Adams has an interesting diet.

Cardi B prolly repping Khabib.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Joseph Benavidez (26-5) vs. Dustin Ortiz (19-7); UFC ESPN+, Jan. 19.

Renan Barao (34-7, 1 NC) vs. Luke Sanders (12-3); UFC ESPN, Feb. 17.

Andre Fili (18-6) vs. Myles Jury (17-3); UFC ESPN, Feb. 17.

Scott Holtzman (12-2) vs. Nik Lentz (29-9-2, 1 NC); UFC ESPN, Feb. 17.

Kron Gracie (4-0) vs. Alex Caceres (14-11, 1 NC); UFC ESPN, Feb. 17.

Vicente Luque (14-6-1) vs. Bryan Barbarena (14-5); UFC ESPN, Feb. 17.

Diego Sanchez (28-11) vs. Mickey Gall (4-1); UFC 235, March 2.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2011: Gilbert Melendez won a unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal to retain his Strikeforce lightweight title. In the co-main event, Cris Cyborg obliterated Hiroko Yamanaka in 16 seconds to retain her featherweight title. The result was later overturned to a No Contest after Cyborg failed a drug test.

2016: Michelle Waterson submitted Paige VanZant with a rear-naked choke at UFC on FOX 22.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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