Not long ago, fan favorite UFC lightweight Nate Diaz took to Twitter to claim that the UFC had offered him a title shot in “any weight class,” but that he was interested in testing his skills in the boxing ring instead.
Ufc offered me title fight in any weight class Im kool though I’ll givem a shot when they do something good
On to the next sport for now 🥊🥊— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) December 9, 2017
“UFC offered me title fight in any weight class,” Diaz said in his Tweet. “I’m kool though, I’ll givem a shot when they do something good. On to the next sport for now.”
Whether the UFC would allow Diaz to break from his contract and compete in the boxing ring, of course, is difficult to say. If the promotion were to let him go, however, it seems he’d have no difficulty acquiring a boxing license from the Nevada Athletic Commission.
Speaking to Express Sport, NAC executive director Bob Bennett said he doesn’t believe Diaz has applied for a boxing license just yet, but that he probably wouldn’t have difficulty getting one if he did.
“I don’t think he’s requested a boxing licence, to date,” Bennett explained (h/t The Mac Life). “But from what I know of Nate and who he spars with, I believe he may have been a sparring partner at some point in time with Andre Ward, he and Nick [Diaz].
“So, if he applied, I would see no reason why we wouldn’t license him. We would be happy to licence him and we hope that he can fight in our state as well, ‘The Fight Capital of the World.’”
Nate Diaz has not competed since an August 2016 loss to Conor McGregor, who is also tied to the boxing world. Where do you think the fan favorite lightweight will fight next?
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 11/12/2017.