UFC undermining Nate Diaz as much as possible by giving him weak card - Fans react to report stating UFC 279 will not have a co-main event
A Twitter page called The MMA Media recently reported that the UFC 279 fight card, which is scheduled to be headlined by Nate Diaz and Khamzat Chimaev, won't have a co-main event. The post also suggests that the UFC considers Diaz vs. Chimaev to be a big enough draw to sell a PPV on its own.
| I’m hearing that the UFC will not be adding a co-main event to #UFC279 so expect a fight already booked to fill that spot.
🚨| I’m hearing that the UFC will not be adding a co-main event to #UFC279 so expect a fight already booked to fill that spot.
The UFC feel that Chimaev vs. Diaz is a big enough main event to stand on its own without much else around it.
#UFC279 #UFC #MMA https://t.co/AIJATPCJdb
However, fight fans beg to differ. According to the majority of fans, the UFC is deliberately setting up a weak card to undermine Diaz's draw power. @The_Ton4real wrote on Twitter:
"No they don’t, they’re trying to undermine Diaz as much as possible by giving him a lesser card."
@The_MMA_Media No they don’t, they’re trying to undermine Diaz as much as possible by giving him a lesser card
@TheCutManMMA @The_MMA_Media Or are they trying to bomb it so they can say nates not a draw?...
@The_MMA_Media That’s simply not the case and you know that. Diaz gets PPV points and is not re-signing. So UFC is putting together the worst card of all time so Diaz makes as little as possible while also shooting his “draw power” down before a boxing match gets made.
@The_MMA_Media https://t.co/VQeFmJjvjF
@The_MMA_Media Daaaamn they doin Nate how they did Ngannou. No support on card to help PPV sales during negotiations...
@The_MMA_Media Or are intentionally limiting the ppv potential extra money these two could get
@The_MMA_Media The feel is they don’t want any other big names on the card so it doesn’t sell as much therefore giving nate more ppv points
Others noted that the card might not sell owing to his high $75 price and lack of high-profile bouts.
@The_MMA_Media Card about to do 70 sells
@The_MMA_Media No.... No it isn't it's a predictable fight with a predictable outcome... Of course anything can happen in a fight but extremely weak card for the price
@The_MMA_Media Mark my words this will be one of the worst ppvs in recent history
@The_MMA_Media Ain’t no one buying this card but Bdubs
UFC 279 will be headlined by a rare non-title five-round clash between Khamzat Chimaev and Nate Diaz. With the co-main event yet to be announced, a light-heavyweight clash between Johnny Walker and Ion Cutelaba is probably the next big draw on the card. Diaz's clash with Chimaev will be the last fight on his UFC contract, which he appears keen to exhaust.
Dana White weighs in on Nate Diaz potentially leaving the UFC after Khamzat Chimaev bout
Nate Diaz has long been rallying to secure the last booking on his current UFC contract. The Stockton native has even hinted at a boxing match against Jake Paul after his UFC release.
While Diaz was originally eyeing a bout against Dustin Poirier, rumors of a clash against Khamzat Chimaev stemmed from a matchmaking board leak. One of the most game fighters to have graced the octagon, the Stockton slugger did not shy away from accepting a fight against the surging Chechen-born Swede prospect when presented with the opportunity.
However, Diaz will likely part ways with the UFC after his UFC 279 main-event clash against 'Borz'. UFC President Dana White was recently asked to weigh in on the possibility of one of his biggest superstars leaving the promotion.
While the UFC boss acknowledged that Diaz's parting will be sad, he also likes to see fighters hanging up their gloves before it's too late. The 53-year-old said during a DWCS presser:
"I mean it's always sad. You know, Jessica Eye just laid her gloves down. 'Cowboy' just laid his gloves down... You know, it's one of those things in pro sports that sucks. It eventually comes to an end and my big thing is all about getting people out at the right time. I like when we see people go at the right time but yes, at the same time it's sad."
Watch White's appearance at the DWCS presser below: