Nate Diaz needs to take the UFC’s final offer, even if it’s not fair

@mattfgrady

 

Dear Nate,

 

I hope this letter reaches you at a good time. On May 20, news broke that you had a meeting with Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta. It was in regards a rematch with Conor McGregor at UFC 202. During said meeting, the conversation went south. White abruptly stormed out because he did not like what he was hearing. You claimed it was because you asked to be paid the same amount of money as Conor McGregor.

 

Just yesterday, White lamented that your rematch with McGregor may never happen because of your demands. He claimed that they were even looking at alternative opponents for McGregor. If you let this fight slip by, you will regret it forever.

 

Obviously, it’s reasonable that you want to get paid. You have been fighting the best guys in the world for a decade and beat McGregor in the first fight. You deserve a big pay day for the rematch. You really do. No argument from me.

 

There is a problem with your logic though.

 

White and Fertitta don’t feel the same way as you. They view McGregor as a bigger star and a bigger draw. McGregor draws in huge numbers of fans from around the globe. He has done it very successfully on pay-per-view several times. Clearly, there is a reason that Floyd Mayweather is calling out McGregor. He is a huge name in combat sports and one that fans are willing to spend big money to see.

 

 

Unfortunately, at this point, you have only headlined one pay-per-view. Granted it was one of the two most successful UFC events ever, but your bosses feel that McGregor was the primary reason for its success. You need to remember this during your contract negotiations. They do not view in the same vein as McGregor. They will pay you what they think is fair and will only dole out so much money.

 

Leading up to UFC 200, McGregor himself tried to play hardball with White and Fertitta. He refused to do some press and film a commercial because he wanted to focus on training. They responded by pulling McGregor from the biggest show in UFC history. McGregor, who is a pretty smart guy, rolled the dice and came up snake eyes. He lost millions by not doing what he was asked.

 

White and Fertitta are shrewd, cut throat businessman. They will not be bullied or dictated too; even by their biggest star. You may deserve to be paid McGregor Money, but they don’t see it that way. You have to be careful here and play your cards right. Otherwise, you will lose out on millions of dollars too.

 

 

When Dana or Lorenzo Fertitta call you with a deal at the eleventh hour, please accept it. Even if it’s significantly less than McGregor; take the money and run. It will be the biggest payday of your career, for a fight that you have a good shot of winning. Even if you lose, there would be an opportunity for a trilogy fight or another big name fight afterwards. If you push too hard, they will walk away and you will lose. We just saw it happen.

 

McGregor got burned by making excessive demands. Don’t make the same mistake he did. Be smarter than that. Getting McGregor money would be amazing, but getting Nate Money is pretty awesome too. It’s still millions of dollars.

 

Nate Money is better than no money. Take their final offer.

 

Sincerely,

 

Matt Grady

 

Matt really hopes Nate takes their final offer. This is once in a lifetime money for Nate. White and Fertitta didn’t come to own a $4 billion company by accident. They play for keeps and will not set precedents where fighters dictate terms to them.