Nate Diaz Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Nate Diaz’s Net Worth: How Much Does He Make?

With a net worth of $8 million, Nate Diaz is a professional mixed martial artist signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He competed in World Extreme Cagefighting, Pancrase, and Strikeforce before emerging victorious in the fifth season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Over his 15-year tenure with the UFC, Diaz claimed 16 UFC bonus awards.

Diaz’s career highlight includes his triumph over Conor McGregor in March 2016, secured by a second-round submission. This victory not only propelled Diaz to fame but also established him as one of the UFC’s most skilled and determined fighters. Despite a narrow loss in a rematch against McGregor later that year, Diaz showcased his unwavering resolve and resilience.

Throughout his fights, Diaz has tackled elite opponents such as Benson Henderson, Gray Maynard, and Rafael dos Anjos. His strengths lie in striking, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mastery, and an unyielding fighting style. Embellished with several Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night awards, Diaz’s octagon performances testify to his prowess.

Notably, Diaz is the younger sibling of former welterweight champion and current UFC contender Nick Diaz.

Conor McGregor Fight Payments

Reportedly, Nate earned $2 million for participating in the Conor McGregor fight. Supplementing this, he received $250,000 from a Reebok sponsorship, $50,000 as a fight of the night bonus, and an additional $150,000 for attending an after-party. The highest earner, however, was from his share of the PPV revenue, amounting to $10.5 million. In total, Diaz pocketed $13 million from the event, while McGregor earned $15 million.

Origin Story and Career Genesis

Born in 1985 into a Mexican-American household in Stockton, California, Nate Diaz commenced martial arts training alongside his older brother Nick at 11. Diaz pursued high school education at Tokay High School in Lodi, California.

Kicking off his professional journey primarily in World Extreme Cagefighting, Diaz claimed victory in his 2004 debut match against Alejandro Garcia. Venturing through WEC, Diaz also graced the arenas of Pancrase and Strikeforce.

“The Ultimate Fighter 5”

In 2007, Diaz debuted in the Ultimate Fighting Championship on the fifth edition of the reality TV show “The Ultimate Fighter.” Exclusively featuring lightweights, Diaz fought under Jens Pulver’s faction. He triumphed over Rob Emerson in the preliminaries and vanquished Gray Maynard in the quarterfinals. In the finals, he emerged victorious against Manvel Gamburyan, securing a win via submission after Gamburyan tapped out due to an injury.

UFC Journey Commencement

Following his “The Ultimate Fighter” triumph, Diaz embarked on a successful UFC spell, overcoming opponents like Alvin Robinson and Junior Assunção. His pursuit for greater challenges led to a showdown against Kurt Pellegrino at UFC Fight Night 13, clinching victory via a triangle-choke submission. Subsequent conquests included triumphs against Josh Neer at UFC Fight Night 15 and Melvin Guillard at UFC Fight Night 19, where Diaz emerged victorious with a guillotine choke submission.

Progression in the UFC

In early 2011, Diaz faced setbacks against Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald but countered with victories against Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone in later matches. Notable wins include the victory against Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3 with a rolling guillotine choke. Despite a period of inactivity that led to his removal from the UFC’s lightweight rankings in 2014, Diaz returned triumphantly with wins against Michael Johnson and Conor McGregor, the latter securing his ninth UFC submission victory.

Notorious Incidents

Nate Diaz has encountered scrutiny in his UFC journey due to sporadic outspoken and contentious behaviors. Noteworthy instances include a 2013 suspension and $20,000 fine for using a homophobic slur on Twitter and an incident in 2015 where he engaged in a profane live television post-fight interview targeting Conor McGregor.

Moreover, Diaz faced controversy during a post-fight 2016 press conference for breaching a USADA rule by vaping a CBD pen within four hours post-fight, though no sanctions were imposed due to CBD’s non-performance-enhancing status. The USADA later removed the substance from its prohibited list.

In April 2023, footage surfaced showing Diaz rendering a man unconscious in a New Orleans street altercation.

Acknowledgments and Achievements

Accolades in Diaz’s professional dossier include multiple Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night recognitions, along with distinctions like Knockout of the Night and Performance of the Night awards. In 2016, he clinched the World MMA Award for Submission of the Year for his clash against Conor McGregor.

Diaz shares the record for most submission wins in the UFC Lightweight category with Jim Miller, boasting seven victories. Additionally, he ties with Frankie Edgar for the most Fight of the Night bonuses, accumulating eight throughout his career.

Life off the Octagon

In 2012, Diaz earned his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from Cesar Gracie’s Pleasant Hill, California training facility. Alongside his brother, Diaz operates a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy, named NickThe founders of Diaz Academy are the Diaz brothers, who also established a CBD company called Game Up Nutrition and entered into a partnership with California Finest for a licensed line of marijuana pre-rolls.

Together with Misty Brown, Diaz shares a daughter named Nikayla.