5 potential post-UFC career options for Nate Diaz

#2. Nate Diaz can sign with Bellator

One of the gripes Diaz has expressed with the UFC throughout the years is the promotion's inflexibility when it comes to its stance on him competing in other forms of combat sports while under contract with them.

The UFC's defense is its wariness about allowing its fighters to compete in other combat sports due to the risk of those very fighters injuring themselves and ultimately throwing a wrench in the promotion's potential plans for their bouts. An MMA promotion where Nate Diaz will not face as much resistance on that front is Bellator.

Scott Coker is more open to negotiating terms with his fighters and allowing them to pursue challenges elsewhere while still under contract. His willingness to schedule a potential bout between Cris Cyborg and current PFL women's lightweight champion Kayla Harrison is one example, while him allowing Michael 'Venom' Page to take part in a bare-knuckle boxing match with Mike Perry is another.

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#1. Nate Diaz can box Jake Paul

The history between Nate Diaz and Jake Paul is a surprisingly storied one. The one-time UFC lightweight title challenger once warned the younger Paul brother against pursuing trash talk with professional fighters, stating that one day he'll cross paths with a fighter who won't be as forgiving as others have been.

Diaz took it a step further by dismissing Ben Askren's assertion that Jake Paul was somewhat good at boxing, describing the former ONE world champion as a wrestler who can neither box nor fight to attack the merits behind Askren's statement. Paul, in turn, responded by reminding Diaz that the Stockton legend has six times the losses Askren does.

The saga culminated in Nate Diaz teasing a bout with 'The Problem Child' on Twitter during his public feud with the UFC as he campaigned for a release so he could pursue other ventures. With his final UFC fight finally booked, Nate Diaz can commit himself to a matchup with Paul in its aftermath.