Jon Anik: Nate Diaz a top-five UFC pay-per-view draw without Conor McGregor

When are we going to see Nate Diaz again?

That’s been a running story line in the MMA world for a year and a half, and we may not be any closer to an answer than we were after he rematched Conor McGregor at UFC 202. Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC) has hinted at a return. Potential opponents have hinted at a return. His bosses have sort of hinted at a return. But so far, nothing.

UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik knows a thing or two about Diaz, and he thinks fans anxious to see him back in the cage are likely to get their wish before year’s end.

“I do think you’ll see Nate Diaz at least once here in 2018, and we’ll pray to the masses that it happens,” Anik told MMAjunkie two weeks ago at UFC on FOX 28 in Orlando.

Anik said he thinks the appeal of Diaz, along with his older brother Nick, is that they’re exciting fighters. Love them or hate them, they make you want to watch.

“For a lot of fans, I think the Diaz Brothers were what really drew us into martial arts,” Anik said. “I remember when I was cutting my teeth, and I would tell people, ‘Just go watch Nick Diaz. If you’re wondering why I love the sport so much, just go watch Nick Diaz.’ There’s just something about these guys that is just so compelling and so captivating.”

Nate Diaz perhaps never was more captivating than when he choked out McGregor at UFC 196 two years ago in a short-notice welterweight fight. That led to the rematch at UFC 202, which McGregor won by majority decision. We haven’t seen Diaz in the cage since, though he has been cageside at some fights.

A McGregor trilogy fight doesn’t seem likely if McGregor hasn’t yet defended his lightweight title approaching 18 months since he won it. And an instant shot at welterweight champion Tyron Woodley doesn’t seem probable, either.

Anik said it doesn’t matter as much who he fights, as long as Diaz is back in there. But some fans have wondered if Diaz can be a big draw absent McGregor standing across from him. And Anik thinks that’s a no-brainer.

“If you’re asking me, I think he’s a top five pay-per-view draw in the company right now,” Anik said. “I think Daniel Cormier is in that mix because he’s been buoyed by the two Jon Jones fights. But I think Nate Diaz can carry a pay-per-view without Conor McGregor. Will he be afforded that opportunity? I don’t know.

“I’m not sure we’re going to see Nick again, but I definitely think we are going to see Nate Diaz. I think it’s interesting when you talk about him as a pay-per-view draw. What do the internal metrics say about how much Nate Diaz moves that needle relative to his opponent (in his first two pay-per-view main events), Conor McGregor? … I think Nate Diaz can carry a pay-per-view and do 400,000-plus pay-per-view buys on his own. I really do. Even in a non-championship situation. I don’t know if my bosses agree, but I’d love to see him be afforded that opportunity.”

To hear more from Anik, check out the video above.

And for more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.