Nate Diaz not interested in pay raise, says UFC is 'holding me hostage'

Nate Diaz's standoff with the UFC isn't financially motivated - he simply wants out.

The fan-favorite fighter hasn't stepped into the Octagon since a June 2021 loss to Leon Edwards. But the hiatus isn't because he's been injured or unwilling to compete. Diaz, who has one bout left on his current UFC contract, has routinely asked the promotion for a fight via social media. He said Tuesday during an appearance on "The MMA Hour" that the UFC is "holding me hostage."

"The biggest thing that can happen for me is to depart," Diaz added. "That's the biggest thing in my life that I can do right now, and that's all I want to do."

Diaz said he's asked for fights with Vicente Luque and Tony Ferguson, among others, but the only opponent the promotion has offered is Khamzat Chimaev. Diaz said he eventually accepted the Chimaev bout, but it didn't materialize.

The 37-year-old added that the UFC offered him a raise each time he asked for a fight. He said the offers would make him the second-highest-paid fighter in UFC history behind Conor McGregor. Diaz also said that he isn't concerned about the money at this point in his career and wants to fulfill his contract as soon as possible and move on to his next phase.

"I don't want no more money," he said. "I want to go do different stuff. There's stuff out there for me to do.

"UFC, can I please have my last fight and be on my way?" he added. "Give me anybody. I want to fight next month. July, August at the latest, and I want to be on my way."

Diaz said that he believes the UFC is refusing to book him as a way of coercing him into a third fight with McGregor. However, he added he isn't interested in the trilogy.

Diaz and McGregor split their first two meetings, which took place in 2016. Diaz has fought only three times since then and is 1-2 over that span.