Dana White scoffed at critics of the Nate Diaz and Khamzat Chimaev matchup.
In the final fight of his UFC deal and what is projected to be his last fight in the octagon, Diaz (20-13 MMA, 18-12 UFC) faces Chimaev (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in the UFC 279 main event Sept. 10.
Oddsmakers have Diaz as a big underdog. The likes of welterweight title challenger Leon Edwards and ex-UFC fighter and current analyst Dan Hardy have criticized the promotion’s matchmaking, but White says both men have no idea what they’re talking about.
“I love when fighters or other people or anybody else, give us advice on this incredibly successful business that we’ve built,” White told Yahoo Sports. “It cracks me up. So I’m looking at Francis Ngannou or Khamzat Chimaev and a couple of other ones that were not good, either. I’m going to take Khamzat.
“I can tell you this: Leon Edwards, Dan Hardy, and anybody else out there yapping, has never dealt with the Diaz brothers, OK? It’s a very unique experience. It takes a very f*cking long time, and we got through it and here we are. It’s a very popular fight people are going to want to see, that people like, and everybody’s getting what they want. Dan Hardy and Leon Edwards don’t have to watch it. They can go to the movies that night.”
White also said it wouldn’t have made sense to give Diaz an easy matchup. Diaz has fought a who’s-who throughout his career and almost rallied to beat Edwards in their fight at UFC 263.
“Imagine this, Dan Hardy, Leon Edwards: You have millions of fight fans all over the world,” White said. “I give fights people want to see. I come out and say, ‘You know what, Nate Diaz’s last fight, we’re going to give him this guy who we think is a really easy fight for Nate Diaz, let him bow.’ Come on, you two. Wake up, boys. It’s not how it works. Do you think Nate Diaz wants to go out like that? That’s why you guys better stick to fighting and stay out of promoting.
“I don’t even have to defend myself. This is the fight Nate Diaz wanted. … They also asked for Francis Ngannou, they also asked for Kamaru Usman. It’s like … do you know what I mean?”
