Nate Diaz has laid out a three-man hit list for his return, naming Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Mike Perry as the opponents he wants for what he calls “real action.”
Nate Diaz’s Next Fight
Speaking to TMZ Sports, the 40-year-old said he is “ready to get back in real action” and spelled out his targets: a McGregor trilogy, a long-discussed clash with Poirier “if he stops being such a p*ssy,” and a fight with bare-knuckle standout Perry.
ConorMcGregor
Diaz has pushed for a third fight with McGregor for years, framing it as unfinished business between two of the biggest names of the last decade. McGregor has publicly echoed that sentiment in the past, telling TMZ Sports as far back as 2019 that he “owes” Diaz a trilogy and that “the trilogy will happen.”
Their rivalry dates back to 2016, when Diaz submitted McGregor at UFC 196 before dropping a majority decision in the rematch at UFC 202, leaving the series tied 1–1 and fueling constant speculation about a rubber match. More recently, Diaz has been linked to a potential McGregor trilogy on high-profile stages, including talk of a historic UFC event on the White House lawn, where Diaz was reported as one of the frontrunners to face the Irishman.
Dustin Poirier
Poirier sits as the second name on Diaz’s list, with their back-and-forth stretching years despite the fact they have never shared a cage. The pair were booked to fight at UFC 230 in 2018 before Poirier withdrew due to injury, and their rivalry has lingered through social media jabs and fresh callouts. Diaz’s latest comment that he wants Poirier “if he stops being such a p*ssy” continues a pattern of him questioning Poirier’s choices, after he previously urged the former interim champion to fight Paddy Pimblett rather than chase only “legends” bouts.
Poirier, who has spoken about wanting a special final fight after falling short in a title bid against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302, has entertained the idea of facing Diaz in boxing but remains under UFC contract, a factor that has reportedly stalled past talks.
Mike Perry
The third option Diaz floated is Mike Perry, the former UFC welterweight who has rebuilt his name as one of BKFC’s leading attractions. Diaz and Perry have had simmering tension since 2022, when Perry began publicly calling for a bare-knuckle fight and positioning himself as an ideal foil for Diaz’s fan-friendly style.
Any Diaz–Perry meeting would likely land under the BKFC banner rather than in MMA, with Perry already on record lobbying for big-name opponents and Diaz testing the boxing market in recent years. While reports have questioned how realistic it is that Diaz would commit to bare-knuckle, Perry’s name remains in Diaz’s plans as part of this three-fight wish list.
Diaz’s comments come against the backdrop of UFC plans for a landmark White House card on June 14, tied to celebrations around America’s 250th birthday and President Donald Trump’s time in office. Organizers are targeting roughly 5,000 fans on the South Lawn for a one-off event, with Diaz and McGregor both mentioned among the major names that could feature.
For Diaz, who last fought in the UFC in 2022 before pursuing boxing, a showdown with McGregor, Poirier or Perry would fit his insistence on high-profile “real action” rather than tune-up fights, and his latest interview makes clear that he sees those three names as his priority targets going into his next move.
