Bellator Hawaii? Nate Diaz lobbies for spot with UFC competitor despite contract status

Still contracted to the UFC, Nate Diaz wants a spot on Bellator Hawaii – or at least so he says.

In a tweet Friday, Diaz expressed his interest in joining friend and former UFC fighter Yancy Medeiros on the Bellator 279 card.

“I’m tryin get on this @BellatorMMA card in April wit my boy (Yancy Medeiros) in Hawaii Wasup wit @BellatorMMA,” Diaz wrote.

Medeiros recently signed with Bellator after he expressed interest in fighting on the promotion’s first weekend holding events in the Aloha State since 2019. He’ll take on Emmanuel Sanchez in a lightweight bout.

I m tryin get on this @BellatorMMA card in April wit my boy @ymedeiros in Hawaii
Wasup wit @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/3Hy0BfCXmF

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 18, 2022

With only one fight left on his promotional deal, Diaz and the UFC have yet to come to terms on his next fight. He competed at UFC 263 in June when he lost a unanimous decision to Leon Edwards.

Recently, UFC president Dana White has voiced optimism about an extension on Diaz. His comments came after a tweet from Diaz, who made reference to wanting a “retirement fight” in MMA.

As recently as Friday, White told ESPN he plans to get Diaz a fight soon.

“We’ll get him a fight,” White said. “We owe him fights. I say this all the time, we’ve got to give these guys three fights a year. We’ll give him a fight.”

Bellator 278 takes place Friday, April 22 at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu. Bellator 279 takes place the next day, Saturday, April 23, at the same venue. The main cards stream on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Bellator president Scott Coker has yet to work professionally with Diaz, but has worked with his brother during Nick’s tenure in Strikeforce.