Following in the footsteps of Conor McGregor, UFC star Nate Diaz intends to get a boxing license in California and Nevada.
Per Elias Cepeda of Champions.co, Diaz made his proclamation on ESNews.
"I'm going to get my boxing license in Cali and Nevada," he said. "I tried to get out of my contract years ago, my UFC contract, but they wouldn't let me go."
Diaz and McGregor have split two head-to-head UFC matches this year. Diaz's victory at UFC 196 in March was McGregor's first defeat since 2010.
McGregor won a majority decision in the rematch at UFC 202 in August. Diaz did not handle the loss well.
“I thought I won that fight,” he said, per Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “They can’t have a mother (expletive) like me winning. I’m too real for this sport. They’re going to get me out when they can, but it’s all good, though.”
Diaz has not fought since losing to McGregor, nor does he have anything on the upcoming schedule. He did announce on Twitter he was going to take time off in response to UFC President Dana White telling Fox Sports Live (via Damon Martin of Fox Sports) McGregor was going to wait 10 months before his next match:
McGregor was issued a boxing license in the state of California last month. Diaz has left no doubt he wants a third fight against McGregor, so following in his footsteps by obtaining a boxing license continues his obsession with the UFC lightweight champion.
Despite only fighting in mixed martial arts as a professional, Diaz has had extensive training in boxing. It's a different type of discipline than MMA, but the 31-year-old understands the sport well enough to handle himself in the event he ever decides to give it a shot when his UFC contract expires.
