In a surprising turn of events, former UFC powerhouse Nate Diaz took center stage on social media, offering a candid take on Dricus Du Plessis‘ championship victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 297.
Diaz, no stranger to the limelight with his legendary clashes against Conor McGregor, expressed his lack of enthusiasm for Du Plessis’ split decision win, securing the UFC middleweight title and marking his seventh consecutive UFC triumph, pushing his record to an impressive 20-2.
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— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) January 21, 2024
Strickland, who failed to clinch a successful title defense after his unexpected victory over Israel Adesanya, faced a tough challenge from Du Plessis in the main event. Diaz, with a storied 17-year MMA career exclusively within the UFC Octagon, provided a unique perspective on the matchup.
A winner of The Ultimate Fighter’s fifth season in 2007, Diaz also contended for the UFC lightweight title, falling short against Benson Henderson. His foray into boxing culminated in a loss to Jake Paul last summer, adding layers to his dynamic combat sports journey.
While Diaz’s future in the fighting arena remains uncertain, his continued interest in the UFC was evident as he tuned in to UFC 297 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Diaz’s tweet, critiquing Du Plessis’ performance, set the social media sphere ablaze, amassing a whopping 272,000 impressions and triggering a flurry of responses, some in disagreement with the outspoken UFC figure.
Du Plessis’ victory not only etched his name in history as the first South African-born UFC champion but also marked the fourth different middleweight champion in the past 18 months, underscoring the division’s dynamic nature.
UFC 297, serving as the inaugural pay-per-view event of 2024, concluded with Raquel Pennington securing a decisive victory over Mayra Bueno Silva in the co-main event, claiming the women’s bantamweight title. The night left fans buzzing with discussions around Du Plessis’ polarizing win, echoing Nate Diaz’s sentiments and adding a layer of controversy to the unfolding UFC narrative.
KAIRA’S VIEW
In the aftermath of UFC 297’s main event, where Dricus Du Plessis clinched the middleweight title with a split decision against Sean Strickland, the seasoned Nate Diaz made his sentiments known through a tweet that reverberated across the MMA community. Diaz, celebrated for his iconic clashes with Conor McGregor, didn’t hold back his disappointment in Du Plessis’ performance, signaling a departure from the expected accolades. With a storied 17-year career in the UFC Octagon, Diaz’s commentary adds a human touch, reflecting the passion and discernment that come with his extensive experience. His journey, from winning The Ultimate Fighter in 2007 to exploring boxing and facing Jake Paul, showcases the multifaceted nature of a fighter’s life. Despite uncertainties about his future in combat sports, Diaz’s enduring interest in the UFC keeps him engaged, offering a unique perspective that resonates with fans. The tweet’s significant impact, gathering 272,000 impressions and sparking debates, underscores the enduring influence of iconic figures like Diaz in shaping the narrative of UFC events.
