During today’s UFC 207 media scrum in Las Vegas, UFC president Dana White revealed to MMAFighting’s Luke Thomas that former Stirkeforce champion Nick Diaz has been offered several welterweight fights by the promotion but unfortunately turned them all down.
Weight debates aside, Dana White told me he's offered Nick Diaz fights at welterweight. According to White, he's turned them all down.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) December 28, 2016
That news followed a story we had published earlier in the day where BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor revealed that Nick Diaz had turned down a fight with Conor McGregor.
I have confirmed that Nick Diaz recently turned down a fight with UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor.
— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) December 28, 2016
Taylor went on to explain that Nick had turned down the fight with ‘Mystic Mac’ because it was “Nate’s fight” and he wouldn’t take that away from his little brother.
Apparently Nick said no to the offer because “That is Nate’s fight” and he wouldn’t take that away from his little brother.
— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) December 28, 2016
Nick opting against taking a fight with Conor McGregor sort of makes sense as his brother Nate is hoping to score a rubber match with the brash Irish star.
Nate had submitted Conor in the pairs first encounter at UFC 196 in March via rear-naked choke in the bouts second-round.
In the rematch this past August at UFC 202, Conor McGregor was able to earn a hard-fought majority decision victory over Nate, leaving fight fans eagerly anticipating a trilogy contest to be booked between the bitter rivals.
What does come as a bit of a shocker is that Nick Diaz has also reportedly turned down an offer to fight current UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.
Wow! So Nick Diaz has turned down fights with both Conor McGregor and @TWooodley. Who are you waiting for @nickdiaz209? #UFC209
— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) December 29, 2016
I will be talking to UFC welterweight champion @TWooodley about the Diaz situation soon. Crazy stuff.
— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) December 29, 2016
Nick has stated in the past that he is no longer concerned about titles, but instead just “Big money fights”.
A rematch with former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre would definitely draw in some big dollars for the Stockton legend but as of this moment there is no talk of that fight being put together by UFC officials.
Nick Diaz has been rumored to be interested in fights with both Michael Bisping and/or a rematch with Robbie Lawler, but neither of those bouts have come to fruition.
Who would you like to see Nick Diaz fight in his return to the octagon. Sound off PENN Nation!