Nate Diaz could be making his long-awaited return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship this summer.
According to a report from ESPN.com, Diaz has been in discussion with the Las Vegas-based promotion regarding a possible fight at UFC 227 on Aug. 4. No deal is currently in place, and UFC president Dana White told ESPN there is “no update” regarding Diaz’s status. Despite White’s denial, the two parties reportedly discussed teh date as recently as last week.
The 33-year-old Stockton, Calif., native hasn’t competed since losing a majority decision to Conor McGregor at UFC 202 in August 2016. That fight, as well as his second-round submission win over McGregor at UFC 196 in March 2016 both drew more than 1 million pay-per-view buys.
At the beginning of this year, Diaz hinted at a UFC return, claiming that he was “sick of sitting around waiting for you f—-ers to do s—t.” In an Instagram post, Diaz wrote that he was targeting May or June for an Octagon return. Multiple reports also linked Diaz to a proposed bout with welterweight champion Tyron Woodley at UFC 219 at the end of last year.
UFC 227 takes place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will include a bantamweight championship rematch between T.J. Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt.