Nate Diaz has been a long-time favorite of combat sports fans across the globe and holds an even more special place in every old-school UFC fan’s heart.

When news of his ongoing issues with the UFC and his contract reached fans, none were surprised to see him representing his usual essence of defiance by being extremely loud about his anger with the organization and its president, Dana White. Diaz even went as far as to tweet a photo of himself urinating on the UFC Performance Institute, which garnered massive attention from the MMA community, mostly in the form of fervent support. 

Diaz’s extreme forms of defiance and blatant disrespect are nothing new. He’s been unapologetically his outlandish self since his UFC debut in 2007 at the young age of only 22.

Since then he’s built an incredible resume of not only knockouts, submissions, and winning decisions, but also unforgettable iconic moments from flashing double middle fingers into the camera on live television while grappling his opponent, to smoking marijuana live during a press conference. These moments are only just a snapshot of Diaz’s character and what he represents in and outside of the octagon.

To many, Diaz represents what it means to be a true fighter and the essence of why so many are drawn to combat sports. In a world that is increasingly disconnected, digital, and where corporate culture seeps into every aspect of the average American’s life, it is extremely refreshing to turn on the TV and see Diaz throwing up his middle fingers to authority in the way we all wish we could at times.

It’s this reason that Nate is not only a fighter’s fighter, but the fans’ champion too- and why so many were enraged to see him sent to the chopping block when his next fight was announced against Dana White’s personal executioner: Khamzat Chimaev. 

Initially, many counted Diaz out, saying he was simply being sent to his death. However it was only for a brief moment that the community forgot who Diaz is, and soon enough he once again had the full support of the infamous “Diaz Army”.

To fans and fighters, this matchup is about more than just the fight predictions and betting odds- it is a manifestation of all the issues in the UFC. Such as problems from fighter pay, to favoritism and “Dana White Privilege” often criticized for boosting fighters who play strictly by what the company wants.

These problems have been highlighted before such as in Dana White’s and the UFC’s issues with Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou. However,  Nate Diaz is the scapegoat because he is one of the only ones willing to be so loud about these issues to the point where he would literally urinate publicly on company property.

Dana White seems to be trying to make an example out of Diaz, but Diaz and his fans will not go out without a fight. To many, the exit of Diaz represents the death of old-school UFC, as he is one of the last early UFC fighters to be leaving the company. After a year of old-school fighters like Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Joanna Jedrzejczyk announcing their retirement, long-time UFC fans are seeing their sport evolve from what once was a niche PPV slot scheduled in the small hours of live TV, to a massively popular standardized sport.

Nate Diaz is one of the last remnants of the origins of televised combat sports and reminds many fans as to why they fell in love with mixed martial arts, so no one wants to see him leave in a brutal beatdown.

Diaz’s history shows that he’s at his most dangerous when anyone begins to count him out, and that’s why he’ll hopefully make a grad exit in his typical fashion with one last Stockton slap.