Dana White not interested in booking Nate Diaz unless he’s ‘absolutely dying to fight’

Despite the news that Dustin Poirier will not require surgery on his hip, it doesn’t appear like a rescheduled matchup against Nate Diaz is in the cards. That’s according UFC President Dana White who spoke with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto regarding the update on Poirier’s injury.

On the heels of good news on Poirier's hip, I asked UFC president Dana White if Poirier/Diaz is a fight he'd want to re-book.

"I'm not interested in making a Diaz fight until Diaz is just absolutely dying to fight. When he's ready to fight he'll let us know."

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 19, 2018

Nate Diaz (19-11) hasn’t fought since an Aug. 2016 majority decision loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 202. The Stockton native was slated to face Poirier in the co-main event of UFC 230 on Nov. 3, however the aforementioned hip injury kept the American Top Team product off the card.

Prior to the fight cancellation, this matchup had it’s fair share of issues ahead of UFC 230. First Diaz demanded the matchup take place for a vacant title in a proposed 165-pound division, which White shot down. Then after months of speculation, it was revealed this matchup would not headline UFC 230. Instead a proposed vacant flyweight title fight between Valentina Shevchenko vs. Sijara Eubanks was set for the main event. That prompted a backlash on social media and the UFC changed their minds again, with the final result pitting heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier against Derrick Lewis. This heavyweight title fight will take place in the main event of UFC 230 despite’s Cormier’s lingering hand injury.

Nate Diaz has only fought four times since 2014 but since defeating McGregor at UFC 196 he’s been more selective with his fights in hopes of a bigger payday. Along with his win over McGregor, Diaz also boasts victories over Jim Miller, Donald Cerrone and Michael Johnson.

With Diaz currently waiting on big money fight and McGregor losing by submission against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 earlier this month, a potential trilogy fight could be in play. If the numbers line up, this could be a fight Diaz would be eager to jump on should both parties come together.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 10/19/2018.