Nate Diaz is finally set to return to the Octagon when he takes on Anthony Pettis in the co-main event of UFC 241.
It has been nearly three years since his last appearance, a majority decision loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 202 in August 2016. And although many are reluctant to believe that the Stockton, Calif., native will actually return, he assures everyone he is indeed fighting on Aug. 17 in Anaheim.
Not only is he excited to return to the Octagon, but Diaz explained why Pettis is an ideal opponent.
“I think it is the best fight. He is coming off of a good win and he’s one of the top guys, one of the better guys in the division. Most entertaining fighter in the UFC, I like that,” Diaz said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.
“It’s a guy I actually enjoy watching over the rest of these fighters. Everyone is getting boring, the fight game. If I’m going to take part in any fights, I want a fight that is interesting to not only me but to the fight fan. If I’m a fight fan I want to see an interesting fight, not a boring fight.”
Diaz also mentioned that he isn’t surprised Pettis has such hard feeling toward him due to the nature of the fight business. Diaz will face Pettis at 170 pounds and he revealed Monday that he has no plans to return to lightweight in the future even though he considers himself “the king of the division.”