Nate Diaz says he is leaving the UFC to “take over another organisation”, but promised to return to the world's lead mixed martial arts promotion in future to finally claim a title.
The American, a huge fan favourite, defeated Tony Ferguson in the headline bout at UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday morning, submitting his opponent by fourth-round guillotine.
Diaz, who was originally to fight Khamzat Chimaev only for the Chechen-born Swede to miss weight on Friday, was contesting the final bout on his current UFC contract.
Immediately after the hugely popular victory, Diaz told Joe Rogan inside the octagon that he was grateful to the UFC's top brass, saying: “At the end of the day, I love the UFC. Shout out to Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, and Hunter Campbell for giving the opportunities and the platforms the whole time for everybody, and for myself.
“I want to get out of the UFC for a minute and show all these UFC fighters how to take over and own up another sport how you’re supposed to do it. Because Conor McGregor didn’t know how to do it, and none of these other fighters know how to do it."
Diaz added: “I’m going to go out there and I’m going to take over another profession and become the best at that, show everybody I’m the best at that. And then I’m going to be right back here to get a UFC title. The best title in the world.”
Diaz, 37, has competed in the UFC since 2005. The Stockton, California native has already detailed plans to launch his own promotion – Real Fight, Inc – while he has not ruled out crossing over into boxing.
“I outdid everybody on pay, I outdid everybody on surviving,” Diaz said of his time in the UFC. “I’ll show everybody how to own another sport. So all you [expletive] out there trying to run another sport - boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, other MMA organisations - if you think you’re the top? Creme de la creme right here. I’m coming for you.”
With the victory against Ferguson, Diaz moves to 20-14 in pro MMA, with his record within the UFC at 15-12. He took on Ferguson, another seasoned veteran, at one day’s notice following a frantic Friday for the UFC.
Chimaev, an overwhelming favourite to defeat Diaz, came in seven and a half pounds over the welterweight limit.
At the post-fight press conference, Diaz did not hold back in his assessment of Chimaev, but said of Ferguson: “Just respect. He been fighting a while. Fought a lot of good people, had a lot of good performances. Put on a lot of crazy fights, taken a lot of damage.
“It’s just respect. It’s the toughest job in the world. That guy should be a hundred millionaire.”
Although he would not be drawn on his next move, Diaz did say he is interested in next month’s boxing bout between former UFC champion Anderson Silva and YouTube star Jake Paul.
“Jake Paul and Anderson Silva - get me some ringside seats,” Diaz said.
In UFC 279’s penultimate bout, Chimaev defeated Kevin Holland in their rearranged clash, winning with a D’arce choke midway through the first round.
Chimaev, now 12-0 as a pro, was roundly booed both before and after the fight, but later told reporters: “You care about that? I don't care. I care about my family, I care about my career, I care about my money... one day they're with me, one day they're not with me.
“I feel alive. When I'm in trouble, I feel alive, when I win my fights, I feel alive. People can say they don't want to watch me fight; they're liars. Everyone wants to watch my fights, everyone wants to see a killer."
On Diaz, Chimaev said: “Kevin Holland, tough guy, stronger guy, much better than Diaz. If Diaz and him were fighting, Holland would kill him. I finished that guy, so easy, first round... so yeah, Diaz has to thank God he didn't fight me. I would kill him. I would be in the jail, so maybe I have to be happy.
“Did you see how [Diaz and Ferguson] kicked, how they punched, how they wrestled, how they grappled? These guys are old. I'm young, I'm the killer.”
After fighting at a catchweight, Chimaev said he would speak to his coaches about his next move.
MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Points about the fast fashion industry Celine Hajjar wants everyone to know
- Fast fashion is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions
- Fast fashion is responsible for 24 per cent of the world's insecticides
- Synthetic fibres that make up the average garment can take hundreds of years to biodegrade
- Fast fashion labour workers make 80 per cent less than the required salary to live
- 27 million fast fashion workers worldwide suffer from work-related illnesses and diseases
- Hundreds of thousands of fast fashion labourers work without rights or protection and 80 per cent of them are women
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Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
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- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
Volvo ES90 Specs
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The specs
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What should do investors do now?
What does the S&P 500's new all-time high mean for the average investor?
Should I be euphoric?
No. It's fine to be pleased about hearty returns on your investments. But it's not a good idea to tie your emotions closely to the ups and downs of the stock market. You'll get tired fast. This market moment comes on the heels of last year's nosedive. And it's not the first or last time the stock market will make a dramatic move.
So what happened?
It's more about what happened last year. Many of the concerns that triggered that plunge towards the end of last have largely been quelled. The US and China are slowly moving toward a trade agreement. The Federal Reserve has indicated it likely will not raise rates at all in 2019 after seven recent increases. And those changes, along with some strong earnings reports and broader healthy economic indicators, have fueled some optimism in stock markets.
"The panic in the fourth quarter was based mostly on fears," says Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist for Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. "The fundamentals have mostly held up, while the fears have gone away and the fears were based mostly on emotion."
Should I buy? Should I sell?
Maybe. It depends on what your long-term investment plan is. The best advice is usually the same no matter the day — determine your financial goals, make a plan to reach them and stick to it.
"I would encourage (investors) not to overreact to highs, just as I would encourage them not to overreact to the lows of December," Mr Schutte says.
All the same, there are some situations in which you should consider taking action. If you think you can't live through another low like last year, the time to get out is now. If the balance of assets in your portfolio is out of whack thanks to the rise of the stock market, make adjustments. And if you need your money in the next five to 10 years, it shouldn't be in stocks anyhow. But for most people, it's also a good time to just leave things be.
Resist the urge to abandon the diversification of your portfolio, Mr Schutte cautions. It may be tempting to shed other investments that aren't performing as well, such as some international stocks, but diversification is designed to help steady your performance over time.
Will the rally last?
No one knows for sure. But David Bailin, chief investment officer at Citi Private Bank, expects the US market could move up 5 per cent to 7 per cent more over the next nine to 12 months, provided the Fed doesn't raise rates and earnings growth exceeds current expectations. We are in a late cycle market, a period when US equities have historically done very well, but volatility also rises, he says.
"This phase can last six months to several years, but it's important clients remain invested and not try to prematurely position for a contraction of the market," Mr Bailin says. "Doing so would risk missing out on important portfolio returns."
Brief scores:
Toss: Kerala Knights, opted to fielf
Pakhtoons 109-5 (10 ov)
Fletcher 32; Lamichhane 3-17
Kerala Knights 110-2 (7.5 ov)
Morgan 46 not out, Stirling 40
