Nate Diaz has been warned that any fight with Khamzat Chimaev would likely be an "assassination attempt" after a leaked UFC card matched the pair together.
Diaz has one fight remaining on his current deal with the promotion and is yet to find an opponent despite making a fresh demand on social media. Leaked fight cards from UFC president Dana White's 'war room' showed Diaz to be facing Chimaev on July 2 with White later confirming the fight is in the works.
Former MMA star Dan Hardy believes Chimaev would inflict physical damage on Diaz if the pair choose to proceed with an octagon meeting. “The most important thing about professional competition is that it’s safe, and it’s sanctioned, and the athletes are looked after," Hardy said on Full Reptile. "That often requires them getting matched appropriately.
“And often, like, if Nate Diaz gets Chimaev in his last fight, it almost feels like the UFC have ordered a hitman on him. Because it’s not a fair fight to give him because of who he is. He [Diaz] has got so much scar tissue. He’s a 155er that’s fighting a guy that’s somewhere between welterweight and middleweight. Like, it’s an assassination attempt. And what it will do is it will do physical damage to him, but it will also do brand damage to him.”
Diaz had previously claimed he would asked to be released from the promotion, after failing to secure his planned meeting with Dustin Poirier who had verbally agreed to fight him. However it appears Diaz may be looking to compete for the final time in the octagon.
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Chimaev recently defeated Gilbert Burns in a thrilling clash to move up to second in the 170lb rankings, and was set to face Colby Covington next according to UFC kingpin White. However Diaz has now been paired with Chimaev, but not for the first time after previously rejecting the opportunity to meet the Chechen star.
"They’re coming at me with [Chimaev], and I’m like, ‘Hold on, don’t disrespect me like that, trying to offer me a fight with a rookie,’” he told TMZ. “Don’t even talk my name. There's levels to this. Anybody in the higher level even playing along to this Khamzat sh*t, you’re a b****, too, taking that s***. You’re a new rookie – deal with new people.”
A fight with Chimaev would likely be an uphill test for Diaz who has just one win in his last four fights. However Chimaev's recent rival Burns believes Diaz would earn respect if he elects to accept the bout.
"To be honest, I hope it happens. Then Khamzat's popularity would just go through the roof," Burns told MMA Underground. I don't think it's gonna happen. I think... last fight in the UFC contract, he wants to get out with a win. I don't think that's a possibility against Khamzat. I think the UFC might be pushing, I don't think [that he] would take that fight. That's a very hard fight for Nate."
