Nate Diaz explains the real reason he rejected Conor McGregor trilogy fight

Nate Diaz has spoken out about the prospect of a third fight with UFC titan Conor McGregor.

Diaz was a regular fixture in UFC for years but has been a free agent since he stopped Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 way back in September 2022.

The 41-year-old from Stockton, California, has been tipped for a blockbuster tiebreaker 10 years after one win and one defeat against McGregor in Las Vegas.

Diaz was the first opponent to beat McGregor under the UFC banner when the Irish fighter tapped out in their first meeting in 2016. Months later, McGregor won their rematch by majority decision.

Having not re-signed with the promotion in advance of the fight against Ferguson, Diaz has been in control of his own destiny and, eventually, his own comeback.

While the 'trilogy' rematch with McGregor is the most popular public choice, Diaz isn't minded to be a small player in someone else's story, bumper payday or not.

"One hundred percent I did [consider going back to UFC]," Diaz told Ariel Helwani via MMA Mania.

"I was pretty close because they’ve always been great since I left too, and they met up with me and talked to me and we had some talks and it was good to see them and good to be back.

"And wheels were spinning just for an MMA fight, an MMA return, and getting back to what I do. And I know that they wanted the Conor fight right now and that’s not what I’m [about].

"I’m like, I’m not trying to be a comeback story for Conor."

Diaz indicated that Charles Oliveira would have been a different story, but UFC didn't want to book the fight.

Instead, the Californian will headline MVP's maiden MMA card against Mike Perry in Inglewood on Saturday.

Perry has been out of the MMA game for five years, concentrating his efforts on an unbeaten career in the bare knuckle boxing ring and a one-time return to professional boxing against Jake Paul in 2024.

A Notorious comeback for Conor McGregor

Helwani reported this week that McGregor's return to the octagon is imminent, with Max Holloway lined up to face the Irishman at the T-Mobile Arena in July.

"I'm telling you, if you don't believe me, you're going to be proven wrong. As of right now, they're on the goal line. They're on the goal line right now. Goal line. I've never said it's signed, sealed and delivered," the journalist said of the fight in Las Vegas.

"Something awful has to happen for this fight not to come to fruition on July 11th. A massive, massive 11th hour atomic bomb of a right turn will have to happen. As of right now, there is none of that. It is not in signed, but they're at the goal line. They haven't scored the touchdown."