Nate Diaz remains one of the most polarizing stars in the entire sport of MMA, even though he is not signed with any promotion at the moment. And why not? After all, the former UFC trailblazer was part of one of the most iconic moments against the biggest icon of the entire sport of MMA when he shocked the world by handing Conor McGregor his first UFC defeat back in 2016.

And even though he left the promotion two years ago, the Stockton native still had dreams of becoming a UFC champion (which seems to have changed recently), which can only happen if he returns to the Dana White-led promotion one day. But podcaster and former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub thinks that the ‘only’ reason the UFC would have Diaz back is for a trilogy with McGregor.

Speaking on their ‘TFATK’ podcast, Schaub and his co-host Bryan Callen spoke about Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone coming out of retirement and potential opponents for him. Callen felt that a rematch between Diaz and Cerrone would be a perfect comeback fight for the veteran. “Yeah well bring Nate back in we all would love that… That’d be a good fight Donald [Cerrone]’s got unfinished business [with Diaz],” Callen said.

But Schaub felt Cerrone was too small of a fish for a star like Diaz on a comeback. “I don’t think so, no. If Nate comes back, the only fight they would do would be Conor [McGregor] so that’s not gonna happen… But wouldn’t you rather see Conor?” Schaub asked. To which Callen ruefully observed, “I would but I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.”

But Schaub completely disagreed with Callen on this. In fact, the former UFC heavyweight ‘guaranteed’ that Diaz and McGregor will fight each other eventually, but maybe not in the UFC. After all, both men have won one fight each in their two clashes so far and a trilogy to resolve their unfinished business will be a blockbuster fight.

“Guaranteed [McGregor-Diaz 3 happens]. It might not happen in the UFC, but I guarantee we see Conor fight again. But if Nate were to come back they ain’t wasting it. And this is no disrespect on ‘Cowboy’ [Cerrone] but they’d give him [Diaz] Conor because that fight only has so long to go, you know,” Schaub said. It seems Schaub feels if McGregor-Diaz 3 doesn’t happen in the UFC, it may happen outside, perhaps at the BKFC. However, Diaz doesn’t want that.

Nate Diaz wants a ‘real fight’ with Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor has two fights left on his UFC contract. And with his MMA career being on a steep downward trend as well as ‘Mac’ becoming part-owner of the BKFC, some feel the Irishman may not re-sign with the UFC. Instead, he may go to the BKFC and help build it into a significant combat sports promotion where he could have rematches with old rivals like Nate Diaz.

However, Diaz has completely ruled that out. “I wouldn’t like to fight him [McGregor] in the bare-knuckle fight, though. I’d like him in a real fight because we got history there and we gotta finish what we gotta do,” he said.

On the other hand, the Stockton native doesn’t seem as enthusiastic about coming back to the UFC either. Why? Well because there isn’t just anyone exciting enough for him in the promotion to want to come back. It seems Diaz has given up on his previous UFC championship aspirations. “When somebody good is coming in and doing something, I’m coming back and f***ing them up,” Diaz added. What do you think about Schaub’s take on a McGregor-Diaz trilogy? Drop your views in the comment section below.