Nate Diaz expressed strong disapproval of Khamzat Chimaev’s dominant performance at UFC 319, where Chimaev secured a decisive win to become the new middleweight champion. Watching from home on Saturday night, Diaz’s reaction highlighted his frustration despite the Russian fighter’s clear success.
Khamzat Chimaev overwhelmed Dricus du Plessis in the main event, controlling the fight on the ground for five rounds and barely allowing any effective offense from Du Plessis. The dominant display resulted in a lopsided decision in favor of Chimaev, marking the beginning of his reign at 185 pounds.
Contrasting Responses from UFC Figures
While Conor McGregor congratulated Chimaev, putting aside any rivalry, Nate Diaz took a confrontational stance on social media. During the UFC 319 main event, Diaz posted the blunt message “Can’t Fight” on X, clearly targeting Chimaev’s style and approach.
This terse comment appeared to criticize Chimaev’s heavy reliance on wrestling instead of stand-up striking to secure victory. Diaz reinforced his critique by retweeting Chael Sonnen’s controversial opinion that Du Plessis was leading after three rounds, even though the final outcome was decisive in Chimaev’s favor.
“Can’t Fight”
— Nate Diaz, UFC Fighter
The Ongoing Rift Between Diaz and Chimaev
The tension between Nate Diaz and Khamzat Chimaev dates back to their scheduled bout in September 2022, which never materialized. The two fighters were involved in a backstage altercation, causing the cancellation of a pre-fight press conference by UFC president Dana White.
Further complicating their rivalry, Chimaev missed weight by 7.5 pounds at that event, leading to the cancellation of their matchup. Instead, Chimaev secured a quick submission victory over Kevin Holland at UFC 279, while Diaz left the promotion with a win over Tony Ferguson on the same fight card.
Despite their absence from the Octagon against each other, the animosity remains evident, with Diaz continuing to publicly undermine Chimaev’s fighting abilities years later.