Nate Diaz has been told to face "perfect" opponent Tony Ferguson in his final fight in the UFC after making a fresh demand to complete his contract.
The American star has not fought since being outpointed by Leon Edwards last year and has just one fight remaining on his current deal with the promotion. Diaz first asked to be released from his contract in a bid to force his exit from the UFC, but has since altered his stance and demanded that he is found an opponent for his concluding bout.
UFC legend Chael Sonnen believes Diaz would tick all of the boxes for fans with a meeting against Ferguson at 170lbs after his potential rival's latest defeat. “Now, if Tony was to go to a 170 pounds and I have a magic wand, what do I do with him? Boom. Nate Diaz," Sonnen said on the latest edition of Beyond the Fight. "Solve the problem right away. That would be a very big and perfect fight.
"That would be an interesting fight. That would be a nostalgic fight. Like, that would serve all the boxes for what we wanted to see as fans. And if you like Nate Diaz, and I know that you do, then you have to like Tony Ferguson. But if you like Tony Ferguson, and I know you do, you have to like Nate Diaz. They’re the same guy."
'El Cucuy' has now suffered four consecutive defeats but has his sights set on a return once he is able to compete in the octagon again after medical suspension. Several other tests could be waiting for Ferguson at 170lbs if he opts to make a switch, including Jorge Masvidal and the returning Conor McGregor.
Meanwhile, Diaz has ruled out a potential meeting with McGregor in his final fight and has also previously been defeated by Masvidal. The American verbally agreed a deal with Dustin Poirier for his last hoorah but official talks failed to produce the desired effect with the prospect of a fight promptly collapsing.
Who would win if the pair fought - Nate Diaz or Tony Ferguson? Let us know in the comments section below
Diaz recently ramped up his contract row by making a fresh demand for an opponent on social media, before posting an image of himself urinating on the UFC Performance Institute. UFC star Anthony Smith believes there are several "barn-burner" events that can be made for Diaz if he opts to continue with the promotion.
"McGregor, Masvidal, Poirier. I can think of five barn-burner pay-per-view events [for Diaz]," Smith said. "In my opinion, with those fights, especially with Conor, if you add Conor and then four others and then you match those against what he would make in a Jake Paul fight, I think he makes more money in the UFC.
"If he goes to another organisation. I think some of those numbers are dependent on his opponent. Nate Diaz can sell fights by himself, don't get me wrong. But at the level he's selling at with the UFC, I think he needs the UFC."
