Nate Diaz
Active 2007–present · rated in 4 editions · peak overall 87.0
Scouting report
Endless cardio, slapping Stockton combinations, and a submission guard made Nate Diaz a well-known figure in MMA. Hailing from Stockton, California, the TUF 5 winner submitted Conor McGregor in the second round at UFC 196. His boxing and output are quantified by a 96 Cardio, 90 BJJ, 88 Boxing, and 87 Overall rating.
Peak ratings
By edition
Diaz put together a lightweight run between 2011 and 2013, submitting Takanori Gomi, out-boxing Donald Cerrone at UFC 141, and submitting Jim Miller with a guillotine choke before dropping a title bout to Benson Henderson and knocking out Gray Maynard at the TUF 18 Finale. His volume boxing combinations, guard submissions, and endurance are reflected in an 88 Boxing and 95 Cardio.
After a 2014 contract holdout, Diaz returned in December 2014 and lost a decision to Rafael dos Anjos in Phoenix, then sat out a year before beating Michael Johnson by unanimous decision at UFC on Fox 17 in Orlando in December 2015. His straight 1-2 punching, pressure, and submission acumen anchor his 88 Boxing and 90 BJJ.
In 2016, Diaz stepped up on eleven days' notice at UFC 196 to submit featherweight champion Conor McGregor with a second-round rear-naked choke at welterweight, before dropping a close majority decision in their five-round rematch at UFC 202 in Las Vegas. His durability, boxing volume, and submission threat justify his 92 Durability and 96 Cardio ratings across these major main events.
Overall is an editorial rating. It can differ from a simple average of the attributes.
Nate Diaz: the pace, the jab and the middle finger
Nate Diaz came up in Stockton, trained under Cesar Gracie, and won The Ultimate Fighter 5. He built a career on volume boxing and jiu-jitsu, and in 2016 he choked out Conor McGregor on short notice at UFC 196. He fights the same way in the last round as the first, and that makes him a great pick if your lineup wants attrition.
Diaz attribute by attribute
Boxing. His best striking weapon. A long jab, stiff straight punches and a habit of walking opponents down with volume.
Kickboxing. Less developed. Kicks are occasional and he prefers to box.
Wrestling. The weak spot. He did not like getting taken down, and better wrestlers made him work from underneath.
BJJ. A black belt under Cesar Gracie with a dangerous guard and a habit of hunting chokes.
Strength. Adequate at lightweight. He competed as a lean, lanky fighter and used length rather than power.
Durability. Durable and unbothered. He took clean shots and kept moving forward.
Cardio. Elite. As a triathlete, he could fight at a pace that broke most opponents.
Fight IQ. Smart in the pocket. He picked shots, baited counters, and knew how to frustrate a rival.
The number that defines him: Cardio
Cardio is at the top. Diaz did not need to win round one, because by round three the other guy was breathing hard while he was still throwing. That pairs well with a fighter who can take a lead and needs help finishing the fight.
Where he is exposed: Wrestling
Wrestling is his lowest rating. An opponent who can take him down and hold him there can neutralise his boxing and his pace. If you draft Diaz, cover this hole with a teammate who can wrestle and keep the fight standing.
Keep exploring
Closest lightweight profiles to Nate Diaz, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Paddy Pimblettbest bjj 88 · weakest wrestling 78
- Jorge Masvidalbest cardio 88 · weakest strength 78
- Jim Millerbest cardio 88 · weakest kickboxing 76
- Bobby Greenbest boxing 88 · weakest kickboxing 76
- Lightweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Protecting your streak: a guide that fits Nate Diaz's strongest attribute, Cardio.
Draft Nate Diaz into your build
Nate Diaz enters the pool on any spin landing on lightweight between 2010 and 2019. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Nate Diaz is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Nate Diaz's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.