UFC: Nate Diaz may retire after title win

Nate Diaz celebrates after defeating Conor McGregor. Photo / Getty Images

Just days after he rocked the UFC with a victory over featherweight champion Conor McGregor, No.5 ranked lightweight Nate Diaz's future is uncertain.

The 30-year-old received the biggest payday of his 10-year UFC career with his win at UFC 196 - US$500,000 (NZ$700,000) in disclosed pay.

A big payday is something Diaz has been chasing for a long time, and now that he feels he has finally been rewarded financially, UFC president Dana White says it could be the last time we see him in the octagon.

White said he had no idea of what Diaz had planned for his future.

"Nate Diaz made a lot of money, a lot of money on Saturday night. If you know anything about Nate's career and what he's wanted, the kid was looking for a big payday. He got his massive monster payday," White said.

"Hopefully, we see him fight again, but who knows. For me to try to predict what either or one of the Diaz brothers are going to do, that's impossible."

White said retirement could be a real possibility for the 19-10 fighter.

"I think it's very possible," White answered. "I can tell you this, you know I don't ever talk money or anything like that. He made life-changing money that could definitely last him the rest of his life."

While speculation around Diaz's next fight posed a possible match-up for the welterweight title against current champion Robbie Lawler, or even the chance to stage a McGregor rematch, Diaz is yet to hint at his next move.

Thus the future schedules of both Diaz and McGregor are more than uncertain at this stage, and it seems more likely that McGregor will return to his regular featherweight division to defend his title. This could put the possibility of a rematch a lot further down the track.

By then Diaz may well have retired as the first man to defeat Conor McGregor in the UFC, with no chance of retribution for the Irishman.

- news.com.au