Nate Diaz took UFC 213 fight vs. Tony Ferguson, then decided not to do Conor McGregor's 'dirty work'

UFC star Nate Diaz said he was offered to fight Tony Ferguson at UFC 213, but “circumstances” and an epiphany of sorts kept him from realizing the matchup after he initially accepted the offer.

In an interview today on “The MMA Hour,” Diaz ranted for over an hour on a variety of topics, including two-time opponent Conor McGregor, the UFC and MMA managers.

Diaz (19-11 MMA,14-9 UFC) said he initially agreed to face Ferguson (22-3 MMA, 12-1 UFC), who called him out, only to change his mind after he came to a realization involving McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC).

“I gladly accepted (the Ferguson fight), and then it was gladly rejected because of circumstances,” Diaz said. “Sure, I will fight him, but under these circumstances, you know what I’m saying? Then I was ignored, and the rumors went on. So I said, ‘Why are the rumors still going if it’s not popping?’

“And then I thought about it: Why am I going to do Conor McGregor’s (expletive) work for him? No, fight each other (expletives), and then you get a shot at the golden child right here (expletive). What are you going to do? You’re going to take time off to make $1 million to fight Mayweather, and I’m going to do your dirty work for you?”

Diaz, the No. 7 fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, said he would have diverted from his current schedule, which includes a full slate of triathlons if the money was right.

“I said, ‘Right now, I’m in race season, but if you want to pull me out of race season, yeah, let’s do it,'” Diaz said. “But you’re going to have to reach my number. And my numbers are already good.

“I’m not waiting for no Conor McGregor, because my numbers are already good. No matter who I fight, I’m getting paid. But I have hella money. I don’t mean to brag about it and be a cocky (expletive) … if you don’t step up your game and get your money, you’re (expletive) up.

“I said if you want me to come out of season, it’s going to cost.”

Ferguson and his manager, Audie Attar, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Diaz declined to put a figure on his counter-offer, though he’s previously quoted wild sums when talking about his demand to step back in the cage. This past December, he said he was “only fighting at lightweight for a big fight or 20 million just to take the call.”

A pair of blockbuster fights with McGregor, who’s focused on a potential boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, catapulted Diaz to a new level of compensation. A rematch last August with McGregor at UFC 202 earned Diaz a disclosed $2 million purse in addition to pay-per-view bonuses that might’ve pushed his compensation over $10 million.

Diaz today downplayed the $20 million figure as a cutoff point for future fights. But apparently his current base pay wasn’t enough to compel him to return just yet.

“When you see me in the cage, (that means) my number was met,” Diaz said. “Other than that, I’m still getting paid more than anybody in the company. Every single fight, no matter who I fight.

“I’m not fighting for fun. It’s not fun to me. It feels good to get stuff done, and for everything to go as planned, but it’s not fun for me. Am I willing to fight? I’ll fight anybody, right out here in my front yard.”

The UFC obviously would rather put Diaz in the octagon. But the 32-year-old Stockton, Calif., native has blasted the promotion’s efforts to compel him under circumstances he doesn’t like.

Today, Diaz again made it clear he wouldn’t bow to external pressure to get in the cage. If he’s going to step into octagon right now, he apparently needs a little more compensation.

“I’m a businessman and trying to do right (with) business,” he said. “I’m looking for a good opportunity.”

For more on UFC 213, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.