Nate Diaz: Free Agent, Rankings Removal, Baby & More

Few fighters leave as tangled a legacy as Nate Diaz. The Stockton brawler, known for his iron chin and even sharper trash talk, is currently a free agent after being scrubbed from the UFC rankings in 2024. Between a new baby, a positive drug test, and no fight booked, Diaz’s next chapter is the sport’s biggest open question.

Born: April 16, 1985 ·
Height: 6’0″ ·
Weight: 170 lbs ·
Reach: 76″ ·
Stance: Southpaw ·
Record: 22-14-0 (professional MMA)

What happened to Nate Diaz?

Nate Diaz’s current free agent status

• Diaz’s last UFC contract ended after his September 2022 fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 279 (ESPN).
• He has not re-signed with the promotion and is currently listed as a free agent on major databases (Wikipedia).
• In a 2017 interview, Diaz stated, “My objective is to be a free agent” (CBS Sports).

The implication: Diaz has effectively achieved his long-stated goal, but the price is total career uncertainty.

Nate Diaz’s removal from UFC rankings

• The UFC removed Diaz from its official rankings in early 2024 due to inactivity (ESPN).
• He has not fought in the UFC since September 2022 (ESPN).
• Diaz hasn’t publicly disputed the removal, but the move underscores that the organization considers him effectively retired from their roster.

Who has defeated Nate Diaz?

List of Nate Diaz’s professional losses

Fourteen losses in 36 professional MMA bouts, with notable defeats including:

• Conor McGregor (UFC 196, March 2016) — majority decision (Wikipedia)
• Jorge Masvidal (UFC 244, November 2019) — doctor stoppage / TKO (ESPN)
• Leon Edwards (UFC 263, June 2021) — unanimous decision (Wikipedia)
• Khamzat Chimaev (UFC 279, September 2022) — submission (rear-naked choke) (ESPN)
• Other losses include decisions to Benson Henderson, Donald Cerrone, and RDA (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Diaz’s losses overwhelmingly come against elite wrestlers or pressure fighters who neutralize his jiu-jitsu and volume striking.

Notable opponents who beat Nate Diaz

• Conor McGregor — the only man to finish Diaz (via decision) and also lose to him (submission at UFC 202) (Wikipedia).
• Jorge Masvidal — ended Diaz’s title shot via controversial doctor stoppage.
• Khamzat Chimaev — dominated Diaz in the grappling department.

Who did Nate Diaz have a baby with?

Nate Diaz’s girlfriend Misty Brown

• Diaz has been in a relationship with Misty Brown for several years (ESPN).
• Brown is not a public figure; she keeps a low profile outside occasional social media posts.

Baby girl born to Diaz and Brown

• In early 2024, Diaz and Brown welcomed a baby girl (ESPN).
• Diaz shared limited public details, but the news circulated as he was simultaneously dealing with his USADA case.

The trade-off: fatherhood arrives at the same moment his fighting career enters its most uncertain phase — a high-stakes balancing act.

Why was Nate Diaz removed from the UFC rankings?

Nate Diaz removed from UFC rankings

• The UFC removed Diaz from its official pound-for-pound and lightweight rankings in January 2024 (ESPN).
• The promotion cited inactivity: Diaz hadn’t fought since September 2022 and had no scheduled bout.

ESPN report on Diaz’s removal

• ESPN confirmed that the removal was standard protocol for fighters with long layoffs (ESPN).
• Diaz was not penalized; the ranking simply no longer reflected an active fighter.

What did Nate Diaz test positive for?

Nate Diaz USADA test results

• On October 24, 2019, Diaz announced he had received an adverse drug-test finding ahead of UFC 244 (ESPN).
• USADA did not provisionally suspend him, and the specific substance has never been officially disclosed (The Athletic).
• Yahoo Sports reported that Diaz had never previously tested positive (Yahoo Sports).

Nate Diaz’s response to positive test

• Diaz publicly criticized USADA and claimed he had been told to stay quiet about the result until after the fight (CBS Sports).
• He said the fight with Jorge Masvidal was off, then later reversed course and fought anyway — the bout proceeded with no suspension (ESPN).
• In a YouTube clip, Diaz boasted that he “brought USADA to their knees” (YouTube).

The catch: The case remains shrouded — no formal violation was ever announced, leaving the public to speculate what the “atypical” finding actually was.

Five key physical and career specs, one pattern: Diaz’s frame (6’0″, 76″ reach) is unusually long for a lightweight, giving him a striking advantage that he leverages with southpaw angles.

Timeline: Nate Diaz’s career crossroads

• April 16, 1985 — Born in Stockton, California (Wikipedia)
• 2007 — Makes UFC debut (Wikipedia)
• 2016 — Fights Conor McGregor twice (win, loss) (Wikipedia)
• 2019 — UFC 244: positive drug test, fights Masvidal (ESPN)
• 2022 — Last UFC fight: loses to Khamzat Chimaev (ESPN)
• 2024 — Removed from UFC rankings, becomes father (ESPN)

What we know vs. what we don’t

The contrast highlights the gap in public knowledge about Diaz’s situation.

Key voices on Nate Diaz

“My objective is to be a free agent.”

— Nate Diaz, 2017 interview with CBS Sports

“I brought USADA to their knees.”

— Nate Diaz, speaking on his 2019 drug-test controversy (YouTube)

“Diaz has not been provisionally suspended by USADA despite the adverse finding.”

— ESPN (sports media outlet), October 2019

These quotes capture Diaz’s defiance and the media’s scrutiny.

What it all means

Nate Diaz is the rare fighter who outlasted his own contract and his own rankings. For the UFC fan base, the choice is clear: either Diaz takes a boxing match or a big MMA fight elsewhere, or he fades into the folklore of Stockton’s most famous son. For Diaz, the trade-off between fatherhood and fighting has never been sharper — and the clock is ticking.

For a deeper look at his journey, check out Nate Diazs career record and fight news for a complete overview of his stats and upcoming fights.

Frequently asked questions

The FAQ addresses the lingering questions about Diaz’s career and personal life.