Nate Diaz Rips Ilia Topuria, Open to Ki MMA Fight

Nate Diaz called Ilia Topuria "a punching bag" and mocked his knockout loss to Justin Gaethje while making an appearance at Scott Coker's Ki MMA launch event on Monday night, and he says he'd fight for the new promotion if there's a ring involved.

Diaz showed up to support Coker even though he's never competed for him, joining Fedor Emelianenko, Cris Cyborg and Randy Couture at the event. When someone asked if he'd compete under the Ki MMA banner, Diaz didn't hesitate. "100%, especially if there's a ring involved," he said, adding that he likes having the option to fight in a ring instead of a cage because of how the corners work. "I'll take down a f---ing D-1 top of the line wrestler in this b---h, easy," he said.

What Did Nate Diaz Say About Ilia Topuria?

Diaz saved his harshest words for Ilia Topuria, who lost the UFC lightweight title to Justin Gaethje by knockout at the UFC White House card earlier this year. "Ilia is lame as f--k," Diaz said. "He's a f--king punching bag. He called me a punching bag. He's a f--king punching bag. He got his ass whooped." Diaz argued Topuria got hyped up the same way Conor McGregor did early in his run, before facing real competition. "He got a real fight with Justin Gaethje and now look at you," Diaz said.

Topuria had called out Diaz in the past as an easy name to beat, so the dig carries some history. Diaz was noticeably less interested in reigniting his rivalry with Mike Perry, who beat him at MVP MMA 1 in March. Asked about a rematch, Diaz shrugged it off. "Our times are just on different paths right now," he said, though he added, "I'm gonna beat his ass at some point."

Is Nate Diaz Fighting Again Soon?

Diaz gave a rough timeline for his return, saying he wants back in the cage or ring by January at the earliest and definitely before the middle of next year. "I'm trying to get active, like, at least three fights next year," he said. "At least two fights next year." He also said he'd still fight Jake Paul, provided the promotion isn't called PFL. "It's gotta be MVP MMA, though," he said. On Conor McGregor's knee injury, Diaz was sympathetic, wishing him "positive vibes for the comeback."

Betting Angle

Diaz is 2-4 in his last six fights and hasn't competed in mixed martial arts under a major banner since leaving the UFC in 2022, going 1-2 across a boxing loss to Jake Paul, a boxing win over Jorge Masvidal, and the MMA loss to Perry. That record matters if Ki MMA books him against a live opponent. Any Diaz fight, whether in a cage or a ring, tends to open with him as a live underdog against younger competition given his age and recent form, and bettors will want to see who he's actually paired with before trusting a squash-game line. A Perry rematch would likely open closer to a pick'em given how competitive their first meeting was, while a fresh opponent in Ki MMA's ring format is harder to price until a matchup is official. Nothing is booked yet, so there's no line to react to, but Diaz at 41 turning talk into an actual fight date would be the trigger that moves markets.

Nothing about a Ki MMA contract or a specific opponent is finalized. Diaz was speaking informally at the promotion's launch event, not announcing a signed bout.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Nate Diaz say about Ilia Topuria?

Nate Diaz called Ilia Topuria a 'punching bag' and mocked his knockout loss to Justin Gaethje at the UFC White House card, saying Topuria was overhyped before facing real competition.

Will Nate Diaz fight for Ki MMA?

Nate Diaz said he would fight for Scott Coker's Ki MMA promotion, especially if the bout takes place in a ring rather than a cage, though no fight is officially booked.

Is there a Nate Diaz vs Mike Perry rematch happening?

Nate Diaz did not commit to a rematch with Mike Perry, who beat him at MVP MMA 1 in March, saying their paths are currently different but that he still intends to beat Perry eventually.