Photo: Lance Cpl. Devin Andrews, U.S. Marine Corps via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Nate Diaz is back. In his first fight in three years, the plant-based star beat Anthony Pettis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in the welterweight co-main event of UFC 241 at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday night.
Diaz hadn't fought since his majority-decision loss to Conor McGregor in their rematch at UFC 202 in August 2016. There was no sign of ring rust. He kept the pressure on Pettis for three rounds with quick, sharp strikes, then used his post-fight interview to call out Jorge Masvidal.
Even Dana White changed his tune. Back in 2014 the UFC president said Diaz was “not a needle mover”. At the post-fight press conference he was asked whether Diaz is now one of the UFC's biggest stars, and answered: “Yeah…it's pretty tough to deny. He's a needle mover now.”
Diaz moved to a plant-based diet at 18, following his brother Nick. He told UFC Ultimate Insider before the fight that he eats a raw vegan diet in fight camp, but by his own account he does eat eggs and fish occasionally. Meat and dairy are off the menu because they don't agree with him:
I don't need this in my life. I don't crave for it or nothing. I haven't since I was 18-years-old.
We've been following Diaz since he beat Conor McGregor in a shock victory at UFC 196, and he told us his diet played a significant role in that win. Last year plant-based heavyweight Bryant Jennings stopped Dimitrenko to win the IBF International title.
Three years out, and he hasn't lost a step. Powered by plants.