Last week, during an interview with USA TODAY Sports(via MMAJunkie), UFC president Dana White revealed that the promotion had offered Nate Diaz, who hasn’t fought since his majority decision loss to Conor McGregor last August, the chance to climb back into the octagon.
Rumours quickly began to circulate that the opponent proposed to Diaz had been former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and that the fight was being targeted for UFC 211 at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas on May 13th.
Over the weekend, MMAFighting journalist Ariel Helwani confirmed that there is at least some truth to these rumours. Although he did not comment on the planned card, date or venue, the always reliable Helwani stated that Diaz vs Alvarez is indeed the fight that UFC matchmakers are looking to piece together.
The one they want is Alvarez, but it's not close to done. https://t.co/3MMl78NFHJ
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 5, 2017
Unfortunately, it’s hard to see this mouth-watering bout getting done right now.
Diaz has made it pretty clear in recent times that he is willing to sit on the sidelines until a mega-money fight presents itself and while the Alvarez match-up is an intriguing one, it’s unlikely to garner him the sort of payday that he is looking for.
The Stockton slug ‘n sub specialist’s response to the offer on social media doesn’t exactly instill confidence either.
Like Diaz, Alvarez has not seen action since a 2016 loss to McGregor. The 33-year-old veteran was obliterated by ‘The Notorious’ Irishman inside two rounds at UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden in New York last November.
Read More About: conor mcgregor, Eddie Alvarez, eddie alvarez news, mma, mma news, nate diaz, nate diaz news, UFC, ufc news
