SALT LAKE CITY – Dustin Poirier would be happy to welcome Nate Diaz back to the UFC.
Diaz parted ways with the UFC after he submitted Tony Ferguson in September 2022. But the superstar from Stockton, Calif., said he intends to return to the octagon.
Poirier and Diaz saw a November 2018 booking fall through and have tried numerous times to get a fight rescheduled, but it never materialized. If Diaz does make his way back to the UFC, “The Diamond” says he’d be willing to fight him. But for now, Poirier’s focus is fully on Saturday’s UFC 291 main event rematch against Justin Gaethje for the “BMF” title.
“Like I always say, I don’t look too far ahead and book myself in fights that aren’t even realistic or a possibility until other things happen,” Poirier told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 291 media day. “But if (Diaz) comes back, I’ll beat him up.”
Diaz makes his pro boxing debut Aug. 5 in Dallas, where he’ll take on YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul in a 10-round, 185-pound matchup that headlines a pay-per-view co-promoted by DAZN and Diaz’s Real Fight Inc.
Poirier rates Diaz’s boxing skills highly, but isn’t sure how they’ll translate in the ring against a bigger opponent.
“Nate does have good boxing, but it’s unorthodox and it works well for MMA – small gloves, pitty-pat punches in that range,” Poirier said. “But with boxing gloves, things are different. Timing’s different. Range is a little bit different. Jake is a big, athletic young kid. If I had to put money on it, I would put it on Jake.”
UFC 291 takes place Saturday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.
