One of the biggest UFC icons in its 30-year history is preparing to jump into the world of boxing in a hugely anticipated clash against ‘The Problem Child’, Jake Paul.
Although this will be Nate Diaz’s first professional boxing match, his boxing was a key part of his UFC success.
Before his battle with Paul, DAZN takes look at Diaz’s five greatest UFC wins below.
UFC - TUF 5 Finale: Diaz vs. Gamburyan
One of Nate Diaz's biggest wins is the fight that sealed his contract into the UFC.
After a gruelling season of The Ultimate Fighter, and having been trained by former UFC lightweight champion, Jens Pulver, Diaz made it into the final of the competition going on to fight Manny Gamburyan for the top prize.
In the opening minute of the second round, Gamburyan dislocated his shoulder in a failed takedown attempt on Diaz leading to him tap out of the fight. The fight earned Diaz a six-figure UFC contract and was the first on his path to becoming a UFC icon.
UFC 141 - Diaz vs Cerrone
The battle between two of the most exciting UFC fighters of all time did not disappoint, as Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone remained in the middle of the Octagon throughout the entire showdown.
The fight was awarded the 'Fight of the Night' accolade, and Diaz gained a unanimous decision victory following the 15-minute brawl.
Diaz, already a star following his Ultimate Fighter win, cemented himself as a must-watch fighter and gained an important victory over a well-respected Cowboy Cerrone.
UFC on Fox 3 - Diaz vs. Miller
When UFC on Fox 3 arrived in May 2012, UFC legend Jim Miller had never been stopped in a fight — that was until he faced Nate Diaz.
The main event lived up to expectations, with Diaz and Miller trading standing strikes, and delighted fans with grappling both in the clinch and on the ground.
Diaz took home the victory with a second-round stoppage, earning himself a performance of the night bonus, and an important win early into his career.
UFC 196 - McGregor vs. Diaz
Following an injury to the then-lightweight champion Raphael Dos Anjos, Conor McGregor had no opponent leading into UFC 196. In typical Nate Diaz style, the Stockton Superstar agreed to the fight on just over a week’s notice. Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
The Ultimate Fighter season five winner was already an icon to many UFC fans, but his second-round submission win over the UFC’s biggest star saw Diaz become a cult hero, as well as starting one of the greatest rivalries in MMA history.
Diaz took home not just a fight of the night bonus, but a performance of the night bonus as well, and led to a rematch with McGregor five months later.
UFC 279 - Diaz vs. Ferguson
By the time UFC 279 came around, it was common knowledge that following the fight Nate Diaz would become a free agent after deciding to not renew his contract with the UFC.
What was not known was that his planned opponent, the undefeated wrestler Khamzat Chimaev, was going to miss weight by over seven pounds, leading the UFC scrambling to find a replacement to take on Diaz.
In a card switch around, Nate Diaz versus Tony ‘El Cucuy’ Ferguson became the new headliner. The two fan favourites collided in a long-awaited dream fight and saw Nate Diaz exit the UFC with a fourth-round submission win.