Bruce Buffer: Nate Diaz Should Be Thanking UFC, ‘Bowing to Dana White’ for Good Fortune

Nate Diaz wasn’t happy when he learned that he would not be part of the card featuring the blockbuster lightweight title bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor.

Diaz, who has been booked to face Dustin Poirier at UFC 230 on Nov. 3 at Madison Square Garden, said he felt “underpromoted” upon learning that Nurmagomedov and McGregor would square off at UFC 229. He also sent out the following tweet: “I’m not fighting on that show [f—k] the UFC.”

I’m not fighting on that show fuk the @ufc

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) August 3, 2018

Longtime UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer dismissed the notion that Diaz was underpromoted, pointing to the Stockton, Calif., native’s earnings for his last bout with McGregor at UFC 202 in August 2016. In fact, Buffer believes Diaz should display a lot more gratitude toward the company that signs his checks.

“I love Nate, but he’s always got a bad taste in his mouth,” Buffer told TMZ Sports. “Nate, I heard you made $7 [million] or more dollars on your last fight. I don’t want to hear you complaining about being underpromoted by the UFC.

“You should be thanking the UFC and bowing to Dana White every time you see him, (and) Ari Emmanuel, Patrick Whitesell. You’ve got $7 [million] or more dollars gross, before taxes, maybe much more – which I love knowing that you have, Nate. Please – I don’t want to hear any more.”

While Diaz is supposed to face top lightweight contender Poirier in November, there is still plenty of interest in a trilogy fight with McGregor. Diaz submitted the Irishman in the second round of their first meeting at UFC 196 before losing a majority decision in the rematch at UFC 202. A few scenarios could lead to a third bout between the two rivals, but Buffer, for one, is taking a wait-and-see approach.

“I think we all want to see it,” Buffer said. “But I don’t think we can make determinations about anything until we see what happens with Khabib and Conor. This is a big fight. I don’t think in front of my guns; I think behind my guns. Let’s see what happens, and then the marketing brains of the UFC will put together what the best thing is for the fans.”