Nate Diaz believes Max Holloway is set for a complete comeback in June following his successful defense of the BMF title against Charles Oliveira.
On March 7th, Max Holloway is scheduled to face Charles Oliveira in the main event at UFC 326, aiming to become the first competitor to defend the BMF title successfully.
Before their upcoming fight, Oliveira described himself as “just a boy” when they first squared off in the cage back in 2015 but now sees himself as “a lion among lions.”
While Oliveira has the support of top lightweight contender Arman Tsarukian heading into this bout, Holloway is backed by former UFC star Nate Diaz.
Diaz Claims He’ll “Slap” Holloway on UFC White House Card
Hailing from Stockton, Nate Diaz last competed under the UFC banner in 2022, submitting Tony Ferguson in the main event of UFC 279. Since then, the 40-year-old has ventured into boxing, participating in a contentious match against Jake Paul and a rematch against former UFC BMF rival Jorge Masvidal in the ring.
Despite the financial success Diaz has enjoyed outside the UFC, he has expressed interest in returning for June’s UFC White House event. Having fought in the first-ever BMF title bout in 2019, Diaz recently stated that he “started the whole division” with that fight.
With Holloway and Oliveira set to fight for the championship on March 7, Diaz is confident the Hawaiian will prevail and is even envisioning a showdown on the White House lawn.
“I like Max (in that match),” Diaz told ClockedNload. “Yeah, I like Max in that match, but I’m going to beat the crap out of him. I’m sorry I just said that, but I’m gonna beat the crap out of him. Yeah, the White House would be perfect,” he added.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Dana White Keeps Door Open for Diaz’s UFC Return
Throughout Diaz’s UFC career, his relationship with Dana White was often tense, with White joking about the challenges of dealing with both Nate and Nick Diaz. However, when Nate left the promotion, it seemed the possibility of a comeback remained.
“This is always going to be Nate’s home. Nate grew up here…he fought some of the biggest fights ever here. We love this kid. We don’t know about his future fights, but this will always be his home. We’ll see that,” White said during the postgame press conference following DWCS 57.
Fan Take: For fight fans, Diaz’s openness to return could inject fresh excitement into the UFC, especially with the BMF title on the line. This potential comeback symbolizes not just the resilience of a beloved fighter but also highlights the evolving landscape of combat sports, where MMA and boxing increasingly intersect.
