Imagine stepping into the Octagon with the fighter you’ve idolized your entire career, knowing your brother already handed them a loss—and they’re out for blood. That’s the nightmare Nate Diaz lived through, and it’s a story that’s as gripping as it is revealing. But here’s where it gets controversial: while most fans assume his legendary bouts with Conor McGregor define his legacy, Diaz himself points to a different fight as his most significant—and it’s not who you’d expect.
Nate Diaz and his brother, Nick, are MMA’s undisputed kings of grit. Their no-holds-barred attitude has led to countless brawls, both inside and outside the ring. Whether it’s settling scores at UFC events or standing their ground in unexpected altercations, the Diaz brothers are always ready to throw down. And this is the part most people miss: their fearless reputation isn’t just about winning fights—it’s about the mindset that fuels them. Take Nate’s reaction to UFC 318, for example. Despite being 40, he still boldly claims the title of the one true BMF champion, a belt he fought for in 2019. But even the toughest warriors have moments of doubt.
In a recent interview on Jake Shields’ Fight Back podcast, Diaz opened up about the fight that haunted his dreams: his 2011 clash with Takanori Gomi. Gomi, a former Pride legend and the fighter Diaz once looked up to, was a towering figure in his early career. ‘Gomi was the GOAT when I was just starting out,’ Diaz admitted. ‘Fighting him was the scariest moment of my life.’ What makes this fight even more intense? Gomi had already faced—and lost to—Nick Diaz years earlier, a result later overturned due to a controversial marijuana test. ‘I was like, “Bro, this guy’s mad at me because of Nick, and now I’m stepping in there?” I couldn’t sleep,’ Diaz recalled with a laugh. But he didn’t just survive—he submitted Gomi in the first round, proving that sometimes fear fuels perfection.
But here’s the twist: While fans debate whether a Diaz-McGregor trilogy would be the ultimate showdown, Diaz himself highlights another fight as equally defining—his bout with Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. At the time, Cerrone was the rising star of the lightweight division, fresh off four consecutive wins. Diaz saw him as overhyped and made it his mission to prove a point. ‘I beat his ass and thought, “What’s up now?” That fight felt like a turning point in my career,’ Diaz said. It’s a reminder that legacy isn’t just about the fights you’re known for—it’s about the ones that shape you.
So, here’s the question: Do you think Diaz’s most defining fights are the ones fans celebrate, or the ones that pushed him to confront his deepest fears? And more controversially, does a fighter’s legacy truly belong to them, or is it forever in the hands of the fans? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!
