3 options for Nate Diaz besides a Conor McGregor rematch
The fight game isn't fair sometimes.
Nate Diaz toiled for years in the UFC as an "action fighter," a guy with a solid reputation that the matchmakers could trust to either put on exciting fights or act as a stepping stone to legitimize one of their chosen stars.
His fortunes changed drastically when he submitted the UFC's latest golden boy, Conor McGregor, at UFC 196 in March. Diaz became a scorching-hot commodity overnight, with everyone wanting a piece of him - including a rematch-hungry McGregor.
The most recent negotiations between McGregor, Diaz, and the UFC appear to have hit a standstill, and while there is still loads of intrigue surrounding a second meeting between the two, there is also the realistic possibility the matchup never materializes.
Related - White: Trip to meet with Nate Diaz 'didn't go well'
If that's the case, Diaz still has time to capitalize on the fame that the McGregor win brought him. Here are three appealing alternatives (of varying feasibility) for the Stockton bad boy:
Georges St-Pierre
Diaz's insistence on a McGregor rematch is rooted in the fact that McGregor is currently the most popular fighter in MMA. A more recognizable and profitable name would definitely get Diaz's attention, and they don't get bigger than Georges St-Pierre.
According to Diaz, he's already spoken to UFC president Dana White about welcoming "GSP" back to the Octagon in the event that he comes out of retirement. St-Pierre's trainer even said he'd see what he could do to arrange a bout between them.
St-Pierre dispatched of Nick Diaz at UFC 158, and you can be sure brother Nate would jump at the chance to get a win back for the family.
Gennady Golovkin
What better choice for the man that no boxer wants to fight than a man who will fight anyone?
Look, if we're going to talk about a Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor match, then we may as well cover all of our bases when it comes to potential boxing vs. MMA matchups, and that bout is just as likely to happen as one between Diaz and Gennady Golovkin.
The middleweight champion's destructive win streak has made it a struggle to find victims willing to step between the ropes with him. Golovkin has knocked out his last 22 opponents, while Diaz has only lost by TKO once in his career. Something would have to give.
If this one went down, it would be the greatest iron hands vs. iron chin matchup since Drederick Tatum went one magical round with Homer "The Southern Dandy" Simpson.
Dancing with the Stars
Laugh it up, but this isn't the first time someone has suggested that Diaz cut a rug. During the promotion of their UFC 196 encounter, McGregor told Diaz (in somewhat creepy fashion) to dance for him:
Fellow UFC star Paige VanZant is in the midst of a brilliant run on the 22nd season of "Dancing with the Stars," so the door is wide open for other fighters to make the transition from punching to pirouettes.
Besides, who doesn't want to see Diaz performing a waltz to a remix of "No Woman, No Cry"?