UFC veteran Nate Diaz picked up the biggest win of his mixed martial arts career this past weekend in Las Vegas when he submitted Conor McGregor in the second-round of their UFC 196 main event fight.
Since earning the epic stoppage victory over the current UFC featherweight champion, in a bout that took place at welterweight (170 pounds), much speculation has been made in regards to who the ‘Stockton Slugger’ should fight next.
UFC president Dana White hinted that a fight with current UFC welterweight title holder “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler was a possibility for the younger Diaz brother.
Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre also came out and said that he was very impressed with Nate’s UFC 196 performance.
GSP’s coach Firas Zahabi echoed his students statement and added that “Rush” was actually interested in a potential return fight with Nate Diaz at July’s UFC 200 event.
With all that said, I believe that Nate Diaz’s next fight should be a rematch against “RDA” for the UFC’s lightweight title.
Although Diaz has fought at both lightweight and welterweight during his UFC career, there is no denying that his best success has come at 155-pounds.
Don’t get me wrong, Nate has had some great performances and victories when fighting at 170-pounds. But when pitted against the welterweight division’s top dogs, such as his fights with Rory MacDonald and former division standout Dong Hyun Kim, Diaz has struggled.
Nate is considered ‘big’ for a lightweight competitor, but is regarded as ‘small’ when fighting at welterweight.
Diaz has proven to be one of the UFC’s best 155-pound fighters during his career inside the octagon. He holds victories over top contenders Donald Cerrone and Michael Johnson, and has already fought for the lightweight strap on one occasion, in what resulted in a decision loss to then-champion Benson Henderson at the first UFC on FOX event in Seattle.
A rematch with reigning UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos would most likely draw interest from fans and would make sense given the current landscape of the UFC’s 155-pound division.
Diaz suffered a lopsided defeat to “RDA” in the pairs first meeting, but has rebounded with terrific back-to-back performances, scoring wins over Michael Johnson and of course Conor McGregor in his most recent outings.
It is my opinion that Nate Diaz’s best chance of winning a UFC title would come in the promotions lightweight division. That is why I would rather see him fight at 155-pounds than 170-pounds in his next octagon appearance.
But with that said, the best “money fight” for Nate may actually come from an opponent in the UFC’s stacked welterweight division.
What is your opinion? Would you rather see Nate Diaz stay at welterweight and fight either former champ ‘GSP’ or current title holder Robbie Lawler instead of making a return to lightweight? Sound off Penn Nation!