Nate Diaz teased an MMA comeback on X, claiming he 'started a whole division' with the BMF title and plans to reclaim it ASAP. The free agent, inactive in UFC since 2023, eyes a UFC return including the 2026 White House event. He lost the inaugural BMF belt to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244 and has targeted Paddy Pimblett as a foe. Diaz's return could revive welterweight/BMF intrigue with his fan draw and submission skills. As a multi-sport athlete, he aims to stay active in MMA, boxing, and jiu-jitsu.
Nate Diaz has signaled a return to mixed martial arts, taking to X to declare his intention to reclaim the BMF title as soon as possible and pointing to a potential appearance at the UFC's 2026 White House event as part of his comeback plans.
Diaz, 41, carries a professional record of 22-13-0 and has been inactive in the UFC since 2023. The Stockton, California native currently fights out of the Cesar Gracie Fight Team and competes as a southpaw standing six feet tall with a 76-inch reach. He averages 4.57 significant strikes landed per minute and attempts 1.3 submissions per 15 minutes, numbers that reflect the high-volume, grappling-heavy style that has made him one of the sport's most recognizable draws. In his post, Diaz asserted that he "started a whole division" — a reference to the inaugural BMF title fight at UFC 244, where he dropped the belt to Jorge Masvidal.
Masvidal, now 41, holds a record of 35-17-0 and fights out of American Top Team. The Miami-born welterweight stands five-foot-eleven with a 74-inch reach and lands 4.05 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy. He secured the BMF title in that UFC 244 main event and remains the fighter Diaz would need to revisit, at least symbolically, to make good on his stated ambitions.
Diaz has also named Paddy Pimblett as a potential opponent. Pimblett, 31, is ranked sixth in the lightweight division with a record of 23-4-0. The Liverpool native stands five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach and is one of the more active strikers in the division, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy while averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Diaz remains a massive fan draw, and any UFC return carries significant pay-per-view weight
- A BMF title angle would reintroduce one of the promotion's most marketable belts
- A matchup with Pimblett would pit two high-submission-volume fighters against each other across a notable style and experience gap
- Diaz's free-agent status means a return fight is not yet officially booked or confirmed
