Nate Diaz opens up on why he turned down UFC's offer to fight Conor McGregor

Nate Diaz has claimed he turned down an offer from the UFC to fight Conor McGregor for a third time.

The 40-year-old, who hasn't featured in the UFC since beating Tony Ferguson in September 2022, will face “Platinum” Mike Perry on the stacked Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano undercard on May 16.

Diaz's bout with Perry is part of the Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) event on Netflix and will be contested over five five-minute rounds in the welterweight division.

“Glad to be back in action. It’s time,” said Diaz after the announcement was made. “Time to set the bar again, so get ready for a new takeover again and again until the end of time.”

UFC president Dana White recently confirmed that he held talks with "The Stockton Slugger" about a return to the company, but after receiving an "offer he couldn't refuse", discussions broke down.

Earlier this week, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian claimed Diaz signed for Most Valuable Promotions following negotiations with the UFC.

"I will say that the offer that he had from us was not as lucrative as the offer he had from the UFC," Bidarian told talkSPORT.

Diaz will return to the cage on May 16. Image credit: Getty

"I think ultimately, for whatever reason, he decided to come and fight with MVP and Netflix; his decision, I can't speak to it.”

Nate Diaz on why he turned down UFC offer

Diaz has been vocal about his desire to take on newly-crowned BMF champion Charles Oliveira, but the UFC wanted him to finish his trilogy with Conor McGregor, an idea Diaz was not on board with.

"I believe they wanted me to come back and fight Conor McGregor, not Oliveira,” said Diaz.

“I’m going to fight for my belt that I created that I deserve since I started the division to bring value to all these f***ing fighters. I started this whole s***, me. That’s my belt you’re wearing around your hips.

“And they were like, ‘okay, we want you to come back and maybe later we can do that’. I’m like well, you know who is doing a good job, [I got] almost close to the same amount offered for Mike Perry, who’s the most violent motherf***er around right now. Doing things, taking on businesses, running his own promotion.

“I’m a lot more enthusiastic to get up and run and get ready to train for this motherf***er who’s going to knock me out or I’m going to knock his a** out - who’s the biggest dog or who’s the best motherf***er there is."

Jake Paul won a unanimous decision against Diaz in 2023. Image credit: Getty

Diaz is adamant, however, that he's not fighting under the Most Valuable Promotions umbrella.

“In the meantime, I’m not fighting for MVP," he added. "I’m fighting for Netflix and I’m fighting from Real Fight Incorporated which I’d probably be doing next on Netflix anyway, real fight entertainment and show them [UFC] how to throw a real MMA fight show.

“I’ve been in the UFC for 20 years now so I’m like I’m going to do that. I’m not working for MVP like all these motherf***ers are. I’m a UFC fighter, I’m working for me and I’m hunting Jake Paul’s motherf***ing a**.”