Nate Diaz Rules Out Retirement

Following his TKO loss to Mike Perry, the 41-year-old Nate Diaz has dismissed any suggestion that the defeat should prompt him to walk away from the sport.

Perry hurt Diaz repeatedly, resulting in blood pouring down Diaz's face. His corner made the call before the third round, a decision Diaz understood even if it frustrated him in the moment” "My eye was leaking out blood and I knew I wasn't going to be able to get that done out there. I was mad but I understand."

Diaz also acknowledged that there was the difficulty of returning to MMA after four years away, as he had boxed Jorge Masvidal and Jake Paul during his abscence. The ring rust was visible across both rounds, his movement slower and his reactions duller than the Diaz of his prime. Diaz, though, said he would not be retiring: "I didn't actually feel good at all. I feel the same way as when I lost when I was younger. I don't have a checkout time. This is forever."

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Diaz has absorbed bad nights before — losses to Georges St-Pierre, Conor McGregor, and Leon Edwards among them. The loss to Perry fits the pattern of his career more than it disrupts it. The cuts, the blood, the corner stoppage, the immediate call for a rematch — all of it is consistent with a fighter who has never defined himself by results alone.

“When I do check out, I don’t need to be f**king crying about it. Oh, put my gloves down in the ring. You’re f**king gone. You’ve got to explain yourself why you’re not fighting anymore? Do whatever the f**k you want. As of now, I feel like I got a long road ahead of me and a lot of shit to do.

“I just fought the most violent mother***ker right there. Maybe I just need to run a little harder next time and get the f**king job done. You should hang them up! Maybe I just don’t fight the most violent, maybe I just fight the second-most violent. ASAP. Heal up and I’ll started running on Monday. Rematch ASAP. Sacramento, Calif. NorCal. As soon as possible,” Diaz stated