Have you ever wondered what the net worth of Nate Diaz is? He is a professional mixed martial artist who has had a successful career in the UFC. He is most famous for his win over Connor Mcgregor and since has amassed multiple 7 figure fight nights.
As of May 2023, Nate Diaz has a net worth of $9 million. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of Nate Diaz’s most notable fights and the payouts he received for them.
Table of Contents
Early Life
Nate Diaz was born on April 16, 1985, in Stockton, California. He began training for mixed martial arts as early as 11 years old, learning Brazilian jiu-jitsu from his older brother Nick Diaz.
At 22, he had his first professional fight in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and went on to have his first UFC fight in 2007 at UFC Fight Night 11. He would win that fight bringing his record at the time to 7-2.
Since then, Nate has become one of the most successful fighters in the UFC, where he holds impressive records, such as winning 7 Fight of the Night awards and 2 Performance of the Night awards.
Nate Diaz Fights
Nate Diaz has a current record of 21-13. With well over a decade of fights in the UFC, he has had some pretty tough matchups. However, below are some of the most notable ones that really helped grow his net worth.
Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor
The most notable win in Diaz’s career comes against none other than the notorious Connor Mcgregor.
In March 2016, Nate Diaz faced off against Conor McGregor at UFC 196. Up until this point, Mcgregor was undefeated in the UFC and held two titles, making him seem almost undefeatable.
However, Diaz didn’t show any signs of fear against the Irishman. The fight ended in a submission victory for Diaz via a rear-naked choke in the second round.
For this second-round victory win, Diaz would earn $500,000, giving him his first six-figure payday to date. Up until this point of his career, Diaz was only making anywhere from $10,000-$50,000 per fight.
This win shot Diaz into the spotlight and skyrocketed his earnings for subsequent matches.
Nate Diaz vs. Conor McGregor 2
In the much-anticipated rematch, Diaz squared off again against Mcgregor, where he lost by decision. Although he lost the match, his bank account won.
Diaz earned a $2 million base salary from the fight and an additional $3.1 million from pay-per-view buys. He also won the award for best Performance of the night and landed a sponsorship deal.
All in all, Diaz earned $5.17 million for his rematch against Mcgregor.
Nate Diaz vs. Anthony Pettis
Following Diaz’s defeat against Mcgregor, Diaz would fight Anthony Pettis in UFC 241. In a highly-anticipated welterweight bout, Diaz served as the co-main event of the night. He had a commanding and dominant performance and emerged victorious by unanimous decision.
For the fight, he walked away with a purse of $250,000.
Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal
On November 2, 2019, Nate Diaz stepped into the octagon to face Jorge Masvidal in the highly-anticipated main event of UFC 244.
In a unique move, UFC President Dana White announced that the headlining bout would be for a celebratory “baddest motherf*cker” (‘BMF’) belt, adding an extra layer of excitement to the match-up.
Although Diaz put up a brave fight, he was dominated for most of the match. In a dramatic turn of events, the fight ended in a TKO between rounds three and four when the cage-side physician determined that a deep cut over Diaz’s right eye rendered him unable to continue.
Despite the loss, Diaz’s fierce fighting spirit and determination left fans in awe, and his performance was reflected in his wallet.
With the earnings from his base salary ($600,000) and earnings from pay-per-view payout ($600,000), he walked away with over $1.2 million for that fight.
Nate Diaz vs. Leon Edwards
Nate Diaz was set to face Leon Edwards in a highly-anticipated co-headliner bout at UFC 262 on May 15, 2021, marking the first time a non-main event and non-title bout was scheduled for five rounds.
However, due to a minor injury sustained by Diaz, the bout was rescheduled to UFC 263. Despite the delay, anticipation for the fight continued to build as fans eagerly awaited the showdown between two top welterweight fighters.
The five-round bout was filled with drama and tension, with Edwards controlling the majority of the fight but Diaz delivering a stunning late punch in the final round that many thought would be the end of Edwards.
However, in the end, Edwards emerged victorious via a unanimous decision. Diaz would walk away from that fight with a disclosed purse of $250,000 and an assumed pay-per-view purse of $600,000.
Meaning his total payout for the fight was around $850,000.
Nate Diaz vs. Tony Ferguson
Most recently, in September 2022, Diaz faced off against Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. In a tense 25-minute fight, Diaz won by submitting via guillotine choke in the fourth round – marking Tony’s fifth consecutive loss.
While his purse amount was not disclosed, it is estimated Diaz earned $750,000 for that fight seeing it was the main event. He also made an additional $50,000 after winning the performance of the night award.
Diaz was actually supposed to fight Khamzat Chimaev for UFC 279, but Chimaev weighed in over 7 pounds overweight for the fight, disqualifying him from being eligible. Therefore, Ferguson took his spot on short notice.
Business Ventures
Nate Diaz is more than just a UFC fighter. He is also a businessman. Most recently, he has been seen on many billboards around California sponsoring a wine company called Lodi Vintners.
He also stated he has plans to launch Real Fight Inc. This new promotion will showcase a thrilling mix of MMA events, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
According to a representative from Team Diaz, he is already taking the necessary steps to secure his promoter’s license in the upcoming weeks.
Nate Diaz Net Worth 2023
As of May 2023, Nate Diaz has a net worth of $9 million. Due to his stellar UFC record and ability to draw large crowds to watch his fights, he has propelled himself into stardom.
Although he is no longer consistently fighting, he has been able to diversify his revenues in other business ventures and sponsorships. He still resides in his Stockton, CA, house that he bought back in 2011 for $430,000.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What happened to Nate Diaz vs. Khamzat?
Khamzat Chimaev weighed in over 7 pounds overweight for the fight, disqualifying him from fighting Nate Diaz. There have been no follow-ups regarding a rematch.
Who is Nate Diaz’s wife?
Nate Diaz does not have a wife. However, he does have a girlfriend, Misty Brown, who is the mother to his two daughters.
How old is Nate Diaz?
Nate Diaz was born on April 16, 1985, making him 37 years old.
Key Takeaways
Leverage opportunities
Diaz’s victory over Conor McGregor in 2016 was a turning point in his career, and he was able to leverage that win to secure higher paydays and greater visibility in the MMA world. Sometimes all it takes is one success for your life to change.
Diversify Your Revenue
Diversifying your revenue streams can lead to financial stability and success. Nate Diaz is a prime example of how being a successful professional athlete does not necessarily mean one’s earning potential is limited to their sport alone.
He was able to leverage his stardom into various business and sponsorship opportunities.