Kristian Ferrell
Nathan Donald Diaz, born on April 16, 1985, is an American mixed martial artist and professional boxer. He is known for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he fought for over 15 years. Diaz has been involved in several public altercations, including a brawl backstage at the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva boxing match in October 2022, and a street fight in April 2023, which resulted in a second-degree battery charge. One of the most notable incidents involving Diaz was the basketball fight, which sparked widespread interest and raised questions about the boundaries of competitive sports. This incident, along with others, has contributed to Diaz's reputation as a controversial figure in the world of mixed martial arts.
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What You'll Learn
Nate Diaz's career
Nate Diaz is an American mixed martial artist and professional boxer. He was born on April 16, 1985, in Stockton, California, and grew up in Lodi, California. At the age of 11, he began training in martial arts with his older brother, Nick Diaz, who is also a professional MMA fighter.
Diaz's MMA career began in 2002 when he competed in a bare-knuckle MMA fight against Robert Limon at the age of 17. He made his official professional MMA debut in 2006, competing mainly for World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC). In his debut, he fought for the WEC Lightweight Championship against then-champion Hermes França but lost by submission in the second round.
In 2007, Diaz signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and fought for over 15 years, establishing a notable legacy. During his time with the UFC, he challenged for the UFC Lightweight Championship in 2012 and faced notable fighters such as Benson Henderson, Gray Maynard, and Conor McGregor. He also holds the third-most UFC bonus awards, with 16 in total.
After a two-year layoff, Diaz returned to competition in 2018 and faced Anthony Pettis in a welterweight bout, winning by unanimous decision. He then faced Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 244 in 2019, losing via TKO due to a cut over his right eye.
Outside of the octagon, Diaz has been involved in several altercations, including a brawl backstage at the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva boxing match in October 2022, and a street altercation in April 2023, which resulted in a second-degree battery charge. In September 2022, Diaz announced the establishment of his own combat sports promotion company, Real Fight Inc.
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Diaz's battery charge
In April 2023, footage emerged of Nate Diaz, an American mixed martial artist and professional boxer, engaging in a street altercation that culminated in him choking a man unconscious. Consequently, Diaz turned himself in to the New Orleans Police Department and faced a second-degree battery charge. However, the battery charge against Diaz was ultimately dismissed, and the criminal case against him was dropped.
The incident in question occurred on Bourbon Street and involved social media influencer and boxer Rodney Peterson. Video footage of the altercation circulated on social media and appeared to show Diaz choking Peterson unconscious. Diaz's representative, Zach Rosenfield, asserted that Diaz's actions were in self-defence. In a statement, Rosenfield mentioned that Peterson had sought out to fight Diaz and that Diaz was simply defending himself.
Diaz's attorney, Ross Goodman, who has represented several UFC stars in Nevada, including Diaz's older brother, Nick, also commented on the incident. He argued that the video lacked crucial context and that Diaz had shown restraint and attempted to de-escalate the situation. According to Goodman, the portion of the video that went viral omitted the fact that the security guard had initially pushed Diaz's face and that Diaz pushed back to create space.
This was not the first time Diaz had been involved in a public altercation. In October 2022, he was engaged in a backstage brawl at the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva boxing match, resulting in his removal from the event. Additionally, in September 2022, footage surfaced of Diaz in a brief confrontation with a security guard at the Omnia nightclub inside Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. While the battery charge stemming from this incident was dismissed, it added to a string of public incidents involving the combat sports star.
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Diaz's fight with Jorge Masvidal
On November 2, 2019, Nate Diaz faced Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden. Masvidal TKOed Diaz (doctor's stoppage) after the third round and was declared the winner of the inaugural BMF Belt.
In the lead-up to the fight, a brawl erupted at the Nate Diaz-Jorge Masvidal press conference. After the fight, Diaz sued, claiming he was owed $9 million for the fight. Diaz claimed he entered an agreement to be paid $10 million for the fight, with $1 million paid upfront and the remaining $9 million paid after the event.
Nearly five years after their first fight, the two fighters faced off again in a boxing match on July 6, 2024. Diaz defeated Masvidal by majority decision in a 10-round boxing match. Less than two weeks after the fight, Diaz sued, claiming he had only been paid seven figures and was still owed $9 million from the fight.
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Diaz's brother Nick
Nick Diaz is the older brother of Nate Diaz, the American mixed martial artist and professional boxer. Nick and Nate grew up in Stockton, California, and both began training in martial arts at the age of 11. Nick is a successful MMA fighter in his own right, having made his debut for EliteXC in 2007. He also launched the MMA promotion WAR MMA in 2013.
Nick has been involved in several controversial incidents throughout his career. For example, in 2010, Nick and Nate were involved in a brawl with Jason "Mayhem" Miller during a post-fight interview. In another incident, Nick confronted K.J. Noons after a fight, coining a phrase that would become an internet meme: "don't be scared homie". This led to a mini-melee between the Diaz brothers and the father-son Noons duo.
Nick has also faced allegations of marijuana use prior to fights, with the Nevada Athletic Commission announcing that he had potentially competed while under the influence. Despite this, Nick has achieved notable victories in the octagon, including a knockout win over Thomas Denny and a hard-fought split decision victory over Mike Aina.
In addition to their fighting careers, the Diaz brothers have collaborated on several ventures. They run a Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Stockton, California, called the Nick Diaz Academy, and founded a CBD company named Game Up Nutrition. The brothers have also been known to give back to their community, supporting young fighters and nurturing the next generation of talent.
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Diaz's fight with Anthony Pettis
Nathan Donald Diaz, born on April 16, 1985, is an American mixed martial artist and professional boxer. He is known for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he fought for over 15 years.
On August 17, 2019, Nate Diaz returned to the UFC after a three-year hiatus to face Anthony Pettis in a welterweight bout. Diaz dominated the fight, winning by unanimous decision and taking all three rounds. He showcased his trademark pressure, working on the ground to get into mount, gain Pettis' back, and land powerful shots. Diaz's victory set him up for a highly anticipated fight with Jorge Masvidal, which took place on November 2, 2019, at UFC 244.
Before his comeback, Diaz had not fought since 2015 and had only fought three times between 2012 and 2015. His return to the octagon was impressive, as he won all three rounds against Pettis and earned a unanimous decision victory. Diaz's performance against Pettis demonstrated his skill and determination, paving the way for future high-profile bouts.
Diaz's fight with Pettis was not without controversy, as he violated USADA rules after the fight by smoking a CBD vape pen within four hours. However, he was not sanctioned as CBD was not considered a performance-enhancing drug at the time. Despite this incident, Diaz's victory over Pettis solidified his place in the UFC and among fans as a skilled and resilient fighter.
In addition to his fighting career, Diaz has been involved in several altercations outside the ring, including a brawl backstage at the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva boxing match in October 2022, which led to his removal from the event. Diaz's involvement in these incidents showcases his passionate and intense personality, which has both captivated and divided fans and the fighting community.
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Frequently asked questions
Nate Diaz is an American mixed martial artist and professional boxer. He is currently a free agent.
Nate Diaz was presented with a key to the city of Stockton by the mayor.
Nate Diaz was involved in a brawl backstage and was removed from the event as a result.
Footage emerged of Diaz getting involved in a street altercation that ended with him choking a man unconscious. He turned himself in to the New Orleans Police Department on April 27, facing a second-degree battery charge.
