Report: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nate Diaz to headline UFC 279

July 19, 2022 - 6:57pm

Nate Diaz celebrates a UFC victory. (Eric Jamison/AP)

A blockbuster welterweight matchup between two of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts is in the works to headline UFC 279 later this year.

ESPN, the UFC’s broadcast partner, confirmed with the promotion’s chief business officer Hunter Campbell that a verbal agreement is in place that will see Nate Diaz face Khamzat Chimaev in a five-round main event contested at 170 pounds.

Diaz last fought in June 2021 when he went five rounds with top-ranked welterweight contender Leon Edwards at UFC 263. It was the first time in UFC history a non-title, non-main event was scheduled for five rounds. Diaz was outclassed for nearly the entire fight before the fan favourite from Stockton, Calif., rocked Edwards with a punch with one minute remaining in the final round.

Diaz still lost the bout because he couldn't finish his opponent and it went to the scorecards. The 37-year-old spent the first half of 2022 pining for a summer scrap.

I been tryin to fight for a year and months I also tried to fight kamzat for the last month and a half but he was hurt, had visa issues,overweight and now his bitchass is off getting married instead of fighting wtf ? I’m tryin to get a fight wit a real fighter asap/July
LFG

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) May 28, 2022

Chimaev stormed through his first four UFC opponents before facing a stiff challenge in former title challenger Gilbert Burns back in April. Chimaev won a tightly contested three-round unanimous decision and he and Burns took home Fight of the Night bonuses.

The 28-year-old has an 11-0 pro record in MMA and will have a close eye on the upcoming UFC 278 welterweight title fight between Edwards and champion Kamaru Usman. Of course, he’ll need to defeat Diaz to remain in the title conversation at 170 pounds.

Chimaev will be a huge favourite in his matchup with Diaz and suffice it to say he feels it’s warranted.

Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) provided this comment about the fight to ESPN. Translated from Swedish by his representative Majdi Shammas.

"I am going to handle Nate Diaz's funeral with the UFC."

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 19, 2022

UFC 279 is expected to take place Sept. 10 at T-Mobile Arena near Las Vegas. The UFC has not yet made an official announcement regarding the event.

ALL UFC PPV EVENTS SINCE 2016 NOT HEADLINED BY A TITLE FIGHT
UFC 272: Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal, March 5, 2022
UFC 264: Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor III, July 10, 2021
UFC 257: Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor II, Jan. 24, 2021
UFC 246: Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone, Jan. 18, 2020
UFC 244: Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz, Nov. 2, 2019
UFC 234: Israel Adesanya vs. Anderson Silva, Feb. 10, 2019
UFC 202: Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor II, Aug. 20, 2016
UFC 196: Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz March 5, 2016

As you can see above, Diaz is no stranger to the spotlight despite having last fought for a title in 2012 -- the BMF title notwithstanding. Diaz’s rivalry with McGregor began more than six years ago and helped elevate his start status.

Diaz’s two fights with McGregor rank in the top six in UFC history in terms of PPV buys. The pair previously said they’d be open to a trilogy bout, but it has not come to fruition and may never.

UFC 279 will mark the final fight of Diaz’s current UFC contract. He has not had the most positive relationship with the organization in recent years, asking multiple times for his release.

Diaz’s name has also been tossed around as a potential future opponent for budding boxing star Jake Paul.

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