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News, Blog and GuidesAfter a war of words with the UFC president Dana White, the American finally has a fight, but did he bite off more than he can chew?
Paul RudderEnglish_ASUpdate: Jul 19th, 2022 18:10 EDT
Mark J. RebilasUSA TODAY Sports
One of the UFC’s biggest stars has secured a bout with one its most dangerous fighters. The question is, can the former Ultimate Fighter winner fend off the Swede’s threat?
Nate Diaz to fight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279
Having begged for a fight over the last few months, it would appear that Nate Diaz has finally been granted his wish by the UFC and it’s big one at that. According to reports, the American will take on the Chechnyan born, Swedish fighter Khamzat Chimaev on September 10th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in the main event of UFC 279. Diaz, who is without doubt one of the biggest stars of the UFC will actually be heading into what is the last fight on his contract. In Chimaev, he will face the third-ranked welterweight and most definitely a very dangerous opponent.
Organizing Nate Diaz’s fight took some doing
In the weeks prior to the UFC’s announcement, it’s understood that there was an intense back and forth between the organization and Diaz as he tried to secure himself a bout. Curiously, it was just last week when Diaz declared in during a media appearance that he wanted to fight either UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou or middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Suffice to say, neither fight was viewed as sanctionable by any commission in the world.
Khamzat vs. Nate. UFC 279 on Sept. 10 at T-Mobile Arena. Main event. Five rounds. Verbally agreed, per UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell. It is the final fight on Nate Diaz’s current UFC contract. pic.twitter.com/p7lrcoroH0
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 19, 2022
Following Diaz’s apparently over the top request, UFC president Dana White expressed his frustration with the situation on Saturday after the UFC’s Long Island card. What’s important to note, is that while White indicated that agreeing a deal with Diaz was difficult, he didn’t specify exactly what the situation was. “Imagine having a f***ing conversation like that,” White said in reference to Diaz’s request for a fight with Ngannou. “It’s like, ‘Come on.’ Nate Diaz versus Francis Ngannou? What should I say? It’s like, ‘Holy s***. This is crazy.’” After that episode, it’s understood that the UFC once again tapped on Diaz’s door at which point ground was given. According to the organization’s statement, both fighters agreed to the deal.
