Nate Diaz recently admitted that he was once offered a fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, but ultimately turned it down – a matchup that, if it had happened, could have been one of the most talked-about clashes in UFC lightweight history.
So why did he decline the offer?
Well, according to Diaz, the offer came when Khabib was still relatively unknown in the UFC:
“He turned down a fight with me.” I was like, I didn’t even know who you were.
They offered me a fight against Khabib when he was brand a** new.
I fought for a title, and I fought hella people already and they offered me a fight with Khabib.
Dana White previously said he tried to book the fight in 2014, which suggests the offer came in late 2012 or 2013 — right after Diaz lost his lightweight title shot against Benson Henderson.
At that time, Khabib was just 3-0 in the UFC.
Diaz explained why he rejected the matchup, feeling it made no sense for his career:
I was like f*** you. You’re going to make a name off me with some new guy?
Give me somebody in the top f***ing five.
I just fought the champion so now I’ve got to fight somebody way down the list?
Nate Diaz shares why he turned down the Khabib fight 👊👀 pic.twitter.com/9h5gtDjLaR
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) August 21, 2025
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