EXCLUSIVE | Jake Shields gives reason for long absences of Nick and Nate Diaz

Over the last few years, we’ve all been wondering when Nick and Nate Diaz will fight again. The brothers have been fan favorites for ages now, but both have taken years off when it seemed like their popularity and their skill was at an all-time high.

While it now sounds as though Nick Diaz will return to action opposite Jorge Masvidal at UFC 235, has hasn’t fought since UFC 183 in 2015, when he took on Anderson Silva in a fight that was ruled a no contest when he tested positive for marijuana and Silva tested positive for drostanolone. Although his long absence is due in part to a suspension, his interest in competing has also been questioned.

Nate Diaz, who was supposed to fight Dustin Poirier at UFC 230 earlier this month, also hasn’t fought in years. He last fought against Conor McGregor at UFC 202 in 2016. Nate lost the fight by decision, though he was adamant he should have been given the nod. Since then, UFC President Dana White has claimed the UFC has offered Nate several fights but he turned them all down.

Despite the lengthy absences of Nick and Nate Diaz, their long-time friend and training partner Jake Shields says they have both been actively training and that both are still focused on fighting. They’re just waiting for the right opportunities.

“I still go back to California to train with Nick and Nate Diaz,” Jake Shields told BJPENN.COM.  

“I have trained with them a lot. Currently, I am in New York so I’m not training with them as much,” Shields added. “I have trained with these guys non-stop for years now. I think they both want to fight still, just not as often. Nate is just waiting for the Conor fight or big fights and same with Nick he was just waiting for big fights. They both had great careers already, so they are just looking for the big money fights now.”

It is rather interesting to hear Shields say Nate Diaz is looking to fight Conor McGregor again. At a UFC 230 press conference earlier this year, the younger Diaz bro said he had no interest in fighting McGregor for a third time because he feels he already beat him twice.

With Nate Diaz booked to fight recently, and Nick Diaz linked to a fight in the New Year, do you think we’ll start seeing them both in the cage more frequently going forward?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 11/18/2018.