Nate Diaz wants you hooked. He wants fans and followers to keep searching, speculating, and Googling what he’s up to next. And he’s feeding the hype. Dropping cryptic clues that spark more questions than answers. No, he hasn’t directly announced his next fight. But his latest message, mysterious as ever, includes just one word. Is he teasing a return to the boxing ring or preparing for another cage fight?

As far as MMA goes, it’s been nearly three years since Diaz last stepped inside the Octagon, choking out Tony Ferguson and earning ‘Performance of the Night’ at UFC 279. A year later, he made his pro boxing debut against Jake Paul. That 10-round bout at the American Airlines Center ended in a unanimous decision loss. Then came Jorge Masvidal, another UFC vet. Diaz edged out a win in that gritty 10-round scrap at the Honda Center. So now, with this teaser, is Diaz hinting at another boxing match to extend his newfound winning streak? After all, he did hint at a condition for returning to the UFC.

Short, sharp, and shadowy

“Alcatraz…,” wrote Nate Diaz. To most users who followed the tweet, it looked like a potential matchup with KSI. That theory gained steam when Ariel Helwani weighed in on the failed KSI vs. Dillon Danis fight. One Twitter user confidently declared, “IF YOU ARE FIGHTING KSI, ASK FOR 10 ROUNDS. NOTHING LESS. THIS IS YOUR FIGHT TO WIN, AND THAT MAN HAS NO CARDIO‼️”

But that’s just one angle. Diaz also recently expressed interest in returning to the UFC to chase a title. It’s a goal that would mark a full-circle moment after nearly 15 years with the promotion. He notably declined to re-sign with the UFC following the Ferguson bout.

Speaking last month on ‘Full Violence,’ the Stockton-born BJJ black belt explained, “Well, everybody’s boring right now, so I’m trying to do other sh*t for the moment, but I want to go back and get a UFC title… I don’t want to fight for nothing, you know I want to fight for something.”

Then came a blunt critique of the UFC’s current roster: “Right now, there’s nobody that’s that entertaining. Who’s the champion right now at 170? See, exactly. That’s what I’m saying. Why would I go back to the UFC right now to fight [Belal Muhammad]? It’s about buzz and who’s popping and who’s doing something. Right now, there’s nobody doing sh*t in the UFC.”

So what’s next for Nate Diaz?

If it’s a title shot, the UFC might still have his heart. But if it’s spectacle he’s after, boxing offers plenty. A rematch with Jake Paul is one option fans haven’t ruled out. ‘The Problem Child’ is set to face former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. next month.

But Diaz has made his stance clear. When a reporter asked, “Hey yo Nate, would you want that rematch with Jake? What would happen in the rematch?” Diaz replied unhesitatingly that he would “beat his a**.”

When it comes to Alcatraz, the infamous island prison, and boxing, the first thought that comes to mind is the Riyadh Season expressing interest in hosting an event there. Could Nate Diaz be hinting at a possible undercard or co-main event appearance? It’s unclear for now. But there’s another twist.

Known for their insane cardio, Nate Diaz, along with his brother Nick, has reportedly swum all the way to Alcatraz from the San Francisco Bay. So, could this cryptic message be pointing to another endurance feat rather than a fight?

For now, fans are left waiting. Decoding tweets, watching interviews, and hoping for answers. Whatever Diaz announces next, you can be sure it’ll be big.

So, what do you think Diaz is teasing? Boxing? MMA? Or something else entirely?