Nate Diaz reportedly in talks with bare-knuckle boxing promotion BKB

Nate Diaz may be heading to the bare-knuckle boxing world. Reports indicate the veteran MMA fighter is in talks with BKB Bare Knuckle for an as-yet-unspecified appearance, though nothing has been officially confirmed.

Diaz, 41, carries a professional MMA record of 22-13 and has spent the bulk of his career competing in the welterweight division. The Stockton, California native trains out of the Cesar Gracie Fight Team and fights out of a southpaw stance, standing six feet tall with a 76-inch reach. Known for his durability and high-output pressure style, Diaz averages 4.57 significant strikes landed per minute with a striking accuracy of 45 percent — numbers that reflect his reputation as one of the sport's most relentless volume strikers. He also contributes on the ground, averaging 1.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes throughout his career.

BKB has been building momentum in combat sports, having previously featured Tyson Fury on one of its cards and most recently adding heavyweight contender Andy Ruiz, who has expressed a willingness to fight Anthony Joshua or Fury under bare-knuckle rules. The promotion's latest event, BKB 59, took place in Tijuana, Mexico.

Why it matters

• Diaz's crossover appeal would bring significant mainstream attention to BKB at a moment when the promotion is aggressively expanding its roster.
• His southpaw stance, long reach, and pressure-heavy striking style could translate in interesting ways to bare-knuckle competition.
• The nature of any potential involvement — exhibition, sanctioned bout, or otherwise — remains unspecified, leaving the scope of the deal unclear.
• BKB's recent signings suggest an ongoing strategy of recruiting high-profile combat sports names, and Diaz would represent one of the biggest yet.