Dana White reacts to Nate Diaz leaving UFC: ‘No matter what Nate does from here on out, this is his house’

Regardless of Nate Diaz declaring plans to depart the UFC after his win over Tony Ferguson, Dana White had nothing however reward for a fighter who has spent the final 15 years on his roster.

“He’s been right here endlessly,” White mentioned of Diaz on the UFC 279 post-fight press convention. “It’s been a blast having him right here. I want him effectively.

“Me and him had this dialogue months in the past on the workplaces. No matter he strikes on to do, I want him nothing however the very best. He’s beginning his personal group or stepping into selling or doing one thing else, I want him nothing however the very best of luck. It’s been superior having him right here.”

Simply previous to UFC 279, Diaz introduced the formation of his personal promotion — Actual Battle, Inc. — the place he plans to carry boxing matches, MMA fights, and even grappling competitions.

Along with these plans, Diaz mentioned he hopes to overcome different sports activities exterior the UFC, with many believing a transition into boxing can be a pure match, particularly with profitable fights in opposition to names like Jake Paul probably awaiting him.

That mentioned, Diaz additionally promised that he would ultimately make his return to the UFC — and from the sound of issues, White would gladly welcome him again.

“It doesn’t matter what Nate does from right here on out, that is his home,” White mentioned.

So far as UFC 279’s fundamental occasion itself, White anticipated issues to play out virtually precisely the way it occurred, with Diaz and Ferguson each bringing the very best out of one another till Diaz’s fourth-round guillotine choke ended the bout.

White gave credit score to Diaz and Ferguson, each of whom stepped as much as save the present after Khamzat Chimaev didn’t make weight for the principle occasion, though White needed to query the takedown try from Ferguson that ultimately led to the submission end.

“Hear, they’re each older guys which were round right here for a very long time. It was what I anticipated,” White mentioned.

“[Nate Diaz is] so sturdy and so powerful. Actually, I don’t know in case you guys have displays or you possibly can hear what’s happening, however we went into Tony’s nook that spherical and his nook for some cause instructed him to take [Diaz] down. [They] mentioned, ‘Take him down.’ He was chopping that leg, kicking that entrance leg, clearly doing harm and his nook instructed him to take him down. Nate capitalized on that the minute he did it.”