5 logical fights for Nate Diaz when he makes his UFC return

#2. Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal II

Jorge Masvidal says he doesn't know why the rematch with Nate Diaz didn't happen, but guarantees they'll run it back "at some point."(via @arielhelwani) pic.twitter.com/PFlgJGSuv1

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 7, 2021

A Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal rematch almost goes without saying.

Jorge Masvidal has enjoyed a two-year run with the aptly titled BMF championship. Despite having fought several times since his UFC 244 TKO victory over Nate Diaz, Masvidal has never defended the title.

The belt as a whole has not been revisited by the UFC since Dwayne Johnson put it around Masvidal’s waist. Coming off two straight losses to the unstoppable Kamaru Usman, Masvidal could do with a money fight to get himself back on track.

Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz is an exciting brawl the UFC could put on in the coming months. For Masvidal, another win over Diaz adds to his aura as one of the sport’s premier personalities. For Diaz, it would be vindication for his 2019 loss to ‘Gamebred’, a defeat that clearly enraged him at the time.

A BMF rematch would be an easy main event to roll with next time Dana White has a big show lacking any divisional titles up for grabs.

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#1. Nate Diaz vs. Leon Edwards

Nate Diaz may well have been one or two minutes away from victory here. After two years out of the game, Nate Diaz made his much-anticipated return at UFC 263. In a testament to Diaz’s drawing power, it was the first ever five-round, non-title co-main event.

Sadly for Diaz, the fight didn’t go his way. Leon Edwards is one of the finest grapplers Britain has ever produced in the UFC. To top it off, he’s also a master kickboxer, in the prime of his life, looking to net his first UFC welterweight title fight.

Basically, Dana White threw Nate Diaz in the deep end for his return. Towards the end of the fight, however, a bloodied Nate Diaz staged a hard-hitting comeback. Similar to his UFC 202 rematch with Conor McGregor, a still-energetic Diaz punched his opponent into mush in the closing minutes.

It wasn’t enough to save him from a decision loss but it did show he’s still got some serious power. If Diaz can speed up and get a little more explosive, he could likely hold Edwards off for the first three rounds before going in for the kill once his foe begins to tire.

Correcting his latest setback would greatly help Diaz’s standing and legacy. It’s a risk the triathlete should definitely be prepared to take in the coming months.