Nate Diaz is an accomplished American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Born on April 16, 1985, in Stockton, California, Diaz started martial arts training at a young age with his older brother Nick Diaz. He made his official professional MMA debut in 2004 and has since won several titles and awards, including fifteen wins and Fight of the Night 8 times in his UFC career.
Diaz has a net worth of $8 million, with most of his income coming from UFC events.
About Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz was born on April 16, 1985, in Stockton, California, to a Mexican-American family. He grew up alongside his older brother, Nick, with whom he would later train in martial arts.vDiaz attended Tokay High School in Lodi, California, where he balanced his studies with his growing passion for martial arts.
At the age of 11, Nate and his brother Nick began training in martial arts together, laying the foundation for their successful fighting careers. Nate initially trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, eventually earning a black belt.
Personal Bio
| Full Name | Nate Diaz |
| Nickname | None |
| Profession | MMA |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Division | Lightweight (Previously), Welterweight |
| Date of Birth | 16 April 1985 |
| Place of Birth | Stockton, California, USA |
| Age | 38 |
| Nationality | American |
| Debut | 2007 |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Net Worth | $8 million |
| Career Earnings | $4.9 million |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Father’s Name | Robert Diaz |
| Mother’s Name | Melissa Womble Diaz |
| Twitter Handle | @NateDiaz209 |
| Instagram Handle | @natediaz209 |
Career
Nate Diaz’s professional MMA career began in 2004 when he started competing primarily for World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC). In 2006, he fought at WEC 24 for the Lightweight Championship against then-champion Hermes França. Diaz lost the match via submission in the second round. WEC 24 marked the organization’s final event before being purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent organization of the UFC.
In 2007, Diaz made his UFC debut at the Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale, where he faced Manvel Gamburyan. He won the debut match with a TKO in the second round. Over the course of his UFC career, the American fighter participated in 26 bouts, winning 15 and losing 11.
Diaz has been awarded numerous distinctions throughout his time in the UFC. He earned Fight of the Night honors 8 times, Submission of the Night 5 times, and Performance of the Night once. Recently, Diaz experienced back-to-back losses against Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal.
Nate Diaz is now scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev at the upcoming UFC 279 event. As he continues to compete at the highest level, Diaz remains a prominent figure in the world of mixed martial arts, known for his skill, tenacity, and occasional controversies.
MMA Career Overview
| Category | Wins | Loss |
| Knockout | 5 | 2 |
| Submission | 11 | 1 |
| Decision | 4 | 10 |
UFC Career Overview
| Date | Event | Res. | Opponent | Method | Round |
| 12-Jun-21 | UFC 263 | Loss | Leon Edwards | Decision (unanimous) | 5 |
| 2-Nov-19 | UFC 244 | Loss | Jorge Masvidal | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 3 |
| 17-Aug-19 | UFC 241 | Win | Anthony Pettis | Decision (unanimous) | 3 |
| 20-Aug-16 | UFC 202 | Loss | Conor McGregor | Decision (majority) | 5 |
| 5-Mar-16 | UFC 196 | Win | Conor McGregor | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 |
| 19-Dec-15 | UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2 | Win | Michael Johnson | Decision (unanimous) | 3 |
| 13-Dec-14 | UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic | Loss | Rafael dos Anjos | Decision (unanimous) | 3 |
| 30-Nov-13 | UFC: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate Finale | Win | Gray Maynard | TKO (punches) | 1 |
| 20-Apr-13 | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Melendez | Loss | Josh Thomson | TKO (head kick and punches) | 2 |
| 8-Dec-12 | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz | Loss | Benson Henderson | Decision (unanimous) | 5 |
| 5-May-12 | UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller | Win | Jim Miller | Submission (guillotine choke) | 2 |
| 30-Dec-11 | UFC 141 | Win | Donald Cerrone | Decision (unanimous) | 3 |
| 24-Sep-11 | UFC 135 | Win | Takanori Gomi | Submission (armbar) | 1 |
| 30-Apr-11 | UFC 129 | Loss | Rory MacDonald | Decision (unanimous) | 3 |
| 1-Jan-11 | UFC 125 | Loss | Dong Hyun Kim | Decision (unanimous) | 3 |
| 28-Aug-10 | UFC 118 | Win | Marcus Davis | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | 3 |
| 27-Mar-10 | UFC 111 | Win | Rory Markham | TKO (punches) | 1 |
| 11-Jan-10 | UFC Fight Night: Maynard vs. Diaz | Loss | Gray Maynard | Decision (split) | 3 |
| 16-Sep-09 | UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Guillard | Win | Melvin Guillard | Submission (guillotine choke) | 2 |
| 20-Jun-09 | The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. the United Kingdom Finale | Loss | Joe Stevenson | Decision (unanimous) | 3 |
UFC Career Stats: 2022 YTD
| Category | Stats |
| Strikes Landed per Minute | 4.51 |
| Significant Striking Accuracy | 45% |
| Strikes Absorbed per Minute | 3.73 |
| Significant Strike Defense | 52% |
| Average Takedowns Landed (/15m) | 1.10 |
| Takedown Accuracy | 30% |
| Takedown Defense | 41% |
| Average Submissions Attempted (/15m) | 1.3 |
Achievements
Throughout his career, Diaz has defeated notable opponents such as Gray Maynard, Melvin Guillard, Takanori Gomi, and Conor McGregor. He has had numerous victories by submission and won Fight of the Night bonuses, showcasing his skills and tenacity in the octagon.
Honors and Distinctions
Nate Diaz has been awarded multiple Fight of the Night, Submission of the Night, Knockout of the Night, and Performance of the Night bonuses for his performances in the UFC. In 2016, he won the World MMA Award for Submission of the Year for his victory against Conor McGregor.
Diaz is tied with Jim Miller for the most submission wins in the UFC Lightweight division, with seven. He also shares the record for most Fight of the Night bonuses with Frankie Edgar, having received the honor eight times.
Throughout his career, Nate Diaz has demonstrated his prowess in martial arts and built a reputation as a fierce competitor. His accomplishments and numerous distinctions have solidified his place in the world of mixed martial arts.
Nate Diaz Net Worth, Salary, and Earnings
In 2023, Nate Diaz’s net worth is estimated to be around $8 million. This wealth has been accumulated through his long and successful career in mixed martial arts, primarily through his various fights in the UFC.
Throughout his MMA career, Diaz has earned approximately $4.9 million in prize money. A significant portion of his overall earnings has come from competing in UFC events. In 2021, he earned $271,000 from a bout against Leon Edwards, despite losing the match. Prior to that, he earned around $540,000 from two matches in 2019. These figures highlight Diaz’s ability to command substantial purses for his fights, reflecting his status as a top-tier fighter in the sport.
Nate Diaz’s Net Worth and Salary
| Event | Payout | Win Bonus | Extra Bonus | Endorsement | Total |
| UFC 263 | $250,000 | – | – | $21,000 | $271,000 |
| UFC 244 | $250,000 | – | – | $20,000 | $270,000 |
| UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Melendez | $15,000 | – | – | – | $15,000 |
| UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Diaz | $50,000 | – | – | – | $50,000 |
| UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs Cerrone 2 | $20,000 | $20,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | $110,000 |
| UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs Miller | $41,000 | $41,000 | $65,000 | – | $147,000 |
| UFC 202 | $2,000,000 | – | $50,000 | $20,000 | $2,070,000 |
| The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs Team Tate Finale | $15,000 | $15,000 | $50,000 | – | $80,000 |
| UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs Miocic | $20,000 | Fined: $4,000 (missing weight) | Fined: $4,000 (missing weight) | Fined: $4,000 (missing weight) | $16,000 |
| UFC 196 | $500,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $20,000 | $620,000 |
| UFC 241 | $250,000 | – | – | $20,000 | $270,000 |
Endorsements
Nate Diaz has secured endorsement deals with several brands and organizations. His endorsement list includes the Nick Diaz Academy, Represent Ltd, and Game Up Nutrition. These partnerships not only contribute to his overall net worth but also help to expand his personal brand and visibility within the MMA community.
Quick Facts
Nate Diaz’s Girlfriend/Wife
Nate Diaz is currently in a relationship with Misty Brown, who, like Diaz, hails from Stockton, California. The couple has been together for several years and prefers to keep their personal life private.
Misty and Nate share a daughter named Nikayla Diaz, who was born on June 6, 2018. The couple is proud parents, but they have chosen to keep further details about their family and personal lives away from the public eye.
While Nate Diaz’s fighting career and accomplishments are well-known, he and Misty Brown have decided to maintain a level of privacy in their personal lives.
Controversies
Throughout his UFC career, Nate Diaz has been involved in several controversies due to his occasional impulsive and inflammatory behavior. Here are a few notable incidents:
- Homophobic Slur (2013) In 2013, Diaz was suspended by the UFC for 90 days and issued a $20,000 fine for using a homophobic slur on Twitter. The fighter faced backlash from the public and the organization for his inappropriate language.
- Profane Post-Fight Interview (2015) Diaz attracted attention in 2015 for his profane post-fight interview on live television, during which he called out fighter Conor McGregor. The interview was deemed inappropriate by many viewers, leading to further scrutiny of Diaz’s behavior.
- CBD Vape Pen Incident (2016) At a post-fight press conference in 2016, Diaz violated the USADA rule by smoking a CBD vape pen within four hours after his fight. Although CBD is not considered a performance-enhancing drug, the action was still against the rules at the time. However, Diaz was not sanctioned for the incident, and the USADA later removed CBD from its banned substance list.
- Choking Incident (2023) In April 2023, footage emerged of Nate Diaz choking a man unconscious on the streets of New Orleans. The incident garnered negative publicity and raised concerns about Diaz’s conduct outside of the octagon.
Age
Nate Diaz is 38 years old (as of 2023).
Height & Weight
Nate Diaz’s height is 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) and weighs 170 lb (77 kg).