Daily Debate Is Nate Diaz good for MMA and the UFC?

Daily Debate Is Nate Diaz good for MMA and the UFC?
about 6 years in USA Today

MMA fans love Nate Diaz. Or maybe they

MMA fans love Nate Diaz. Or maybe they just love – really love – to hate him.
Either way, fans want to see him.
For our new Daily Debate feature, we asked MMAjunkie readers and MMAjunkie Radio listeners a simple question: Is Diaz good for MMA and the UFC?

Related
Nate Diaz nearly lit a joint on live TV at UFC Fight Night 126
Despite the fact he hasn’t fought since August 2016, despite his demands for major paydays, despite challenging some (arguably pointless) drug-testing statutes, despite a knack for other out-of-the-cage exploits, despite constantly challenging UFC officials, this much is simple: MMA fans – by an overwhelming majority – think Diaz is good for the sport.
Check out these poll results (via Twitter):

Today's @MMAjunkieRadio poll question: Is Nate Diaz good for MMA and the UFC?
— MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) February 20, 2018

Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC) has been out of the cage since a two-fight non-title welterweight series with lightweight champion Conor McGregor in 2016. However, despite bringing some energy to fight-week activities, Diaz is also can’t-miss TV once in the cage. After all, he’s racked up “Fight of the Night” bonuses in his three most recent fights, and overall, he’s tied for first with 15 fight-night bonuses.
Although 32-year-old Diaz has no immediate plans to return to the cage (though that may change soon), he’s still clearly a force in the sport.
For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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Aug 20, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz (red gloves) competes against Conor McGregor (blue gloves) during UFC 202 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 30, 2009; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UFC fighter Nate Diaz flexes at the weigh ins for his fight against Clay Guida (not pictured) for the lightweight bout in UFC 94 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. Guida defeated Diaz on a split decision. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 31, 2009; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UFC fighter Clay Guida (white trunks) raises his arms after knocking down Nate Diaz (red trunks) during the lightweight bout in UFC 94 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. Guida defeated Diaz on a split decision. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 30, 2011; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UFC fighter Nate Diaz (bottom) with brother Nick Diaz during a lightweight bout at UFC 141 at the MGM Grand Garden event center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 30, 2011; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UFC fighter Nate Diaz (right) against Donald Cerrone during a lightweight bout at UFC 141 at the MGM Grand Garden event center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 30, 2011; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UFC fighter Nate Diaz (left) talks with UFC president Dana White after winning a lightweight bout at UFC 141 at the MGM Grand Garden event center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 30, 2011; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UFC fighter Nate Diaz leaves the octagon after defeating Donald Cerrone (not pictured) during a lightweight bout at UFC 141 at the MGM Grand Garden event center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

May 5, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Nate Diaz before his lightweight bout against Jim Miller during UFC on Fox 3 at the Izod Center. Nate Diaz wins by submission in round two Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 8, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; Ben Henderson (left) fights Nate Diaz (right) during their first round Championship lightweight bout at MMA on FOX 5 at Key Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 8, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; Ben Henderson (not pictured) fights Nate Diaz during their second round Championship lightweight bout at MMA on FOX 5 at Key Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 20, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; Nate Diaz (left) fights Josh Thomson (right) during the lightweight bout of the UFC on Fuel TV at HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Apr 20, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; Nate Diaz fights Josh Thomson (not pictured) during the lightweight bout of the UFC on Fuel TV at HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 12, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Rafael dos Anjos (left) and Nate Diaz (right) face off during weigh-ins for UFC Fight Night at Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

December 13, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Nate Diaz against Rafael dos Anjos (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

December 13, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Nate Diaz during UFC Fight Night at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

December 13, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Rafael dos Anjos kicks Nate Diaz during UFC Fight Night at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

December 13, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Nate Diaz hits Rafael dos Anjos during UFC Fight Night at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

December 13, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Rafael dos Anjos (top) against Nate Diaz during UFC Fight Night at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

December 13, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Nate Diaz cut while fighting Rafael dos Anjos during UFC Fight Night at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

December 13, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Nate Diaz reacts following his fight against Rafael dos Anjos during UFC Fight Night at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

December 19, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Nate Diaz moves in with a punch against Michael Johnson during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

December 19, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Nate Diaz on the mat following his fight against Michael Johnson during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

December 19, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Nate Diaz against Michael Johnson during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
December 19, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Michael Johnson against Nate Diaz during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 4, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UFC president Dana White (center) attempts to separate Conor McGregor (left) from Nate Diaz during weigh-ins for UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mar 4, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz reacts with a middle finger to Conor McGregor (not pictured) during weigh-ins for UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

March 5, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz (right) against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

March 5, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz lands a punch against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

March 5, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz moves in with a punch against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

March 5, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Conor McGregor moves in for a punch against Nate Diaz during UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

March 5, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz is tended to by trainers during UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

March 5, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz (right) against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

March 5, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz reacts against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

March 5, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz (right) against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 5: Nate Diaz punches Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

March 5, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz applies a chokehold against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

March 5, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz (top) against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 5: Nate Diaz applies a choke hold to win by submission against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 5: Nate Diaz celebrates after defeating Conor McGregor during UFC 196 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

Aug 20, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz (red gloves) competes against Conor McGregor (blue gloves
) during UFC 202 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 20, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz (red gloves) competes against Conor McGregor (blue gloves) during UFC 202 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports

Nate Diaz wipes blood from his eyes during his welterweight mixed martial arts bout against Conor McGregor at UFC 202 on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, in Las Vegas. McGregor won by split decision. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

Aug 20, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nate Diaz (red gloves) competes against Conor McGregor (blue gloves) during UFC 202 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports

Conor McGregor, right, and Nate Diaz embrace following their welterweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 202 on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, in Las Vegas. McGregor won by split decision. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)