This weekend in the headliner of UFC 279, we are going to see a highly anticipated matchup in the welterweight division. Superstar Nate Diaz (20-13) will make the walk potentially for the final time as he takes on the undefeated sensation Khamzat Chimaev (11-0).
Diaz is on the final fight of his UFC contract. It’s very public how frustrating this whole ordeal has been for Stockton’s finest. Diaz asked for a fight in January with Dustin Poirier. It was a fight that Poirier wanted as well, but the promotion decided to play hard ball.
Diaz had one fight left on his deal and the promotion wasn’t going to let him off easy. They wanted Diaz to re-sign in order to give him the fights that he wanted. Diaz asked for a number of opponents and the UFC turned all of them down.
Instead, they told Diaz that they would give him Khamzat Chimaev if he doesn’t re-sign. Chimaev is one of the worst stylistic matchups for Diaz in the entire division. On paper, it’s a horrible fight for Diaz and one he never had interest in.
However, when it became clear that it was his only way out, Diaz agreed to the fight.
UFC 279 could be interesting
Nate Diaz is giving off the vibes of someone who is already checked out. To me, he’s coming across as someone who is just here to check the box of his final fight so he can get out. The UFC posted a video yesterday of Diaz who didn’t look to be in peak physical condition.
The images were backed up by Diaz’s words at media day. When asked about the fight that he didn’t want, Diaz said that he had stopped preparing for UFC 279 altogether. He then said, “Whatever. Beat me.” The words are giving some fans pause about what version of Nate Diaz they will see on Saturday.
This is not a motivated Nate Diaz. This is not a Nate Diaz that appears focused on winning. Nate Diaz is a guy who wants out and this is his only path. We will give our formal predictions tomorrow, but it’s really hard for me to see Diaz in the condition he’s in and believe that he wins on Saturday.