While many MMA fans believed Nate Diaz settled his differences with the UFC after being scheduled for a fight against Rafael dos Anjos, his manager, Mike Kogan, says that there are still huge problems.
Kogan said that Diaz is not satisfied with his current contract with the promotion, which was the reason why Diaz imposed an exile on himself that lasted a year, according to Bloody Elbow.
"No. F*** no. We weren't happy when we were signing it," Kogan said. "Just kind of made it work because it was two weeks before the fight and there just wasn't time to be making a lot of waves. It is what it is."
Diaz's hasn't fought since November, when he beat Gray Maynard in the finale of The Ultimate Fighter's 18th season, MMA Fighting reported.
The 29-year-old fighter would decide to leave the promotion due to what he believed was an unreasonable salary. It appeared that he had reached an agreement with the UFC in September when he was put against Dos Anjos, but the exile only ended because of the opportunity presented in fighting dos Anjos.
Kogan said issues with UFC President Dana White heated up when Diaz said he wanted to face more fighters that were starting to become popular instead of those who have already established their careers.
"The next thing you know, they're trashing [Diaz] in public that he's afraid to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov, which was bulls**t," Kogan said. "Nobody said afraid, we just said, 'Hey, you want me to fight up-and-coming guys and build them up and give them exposure? Then you have to pay.'"
The manager believes that he and his fighter may not have a relationship with the promotion, as he and White have engaged in several confrontations on social media, MMA Fighting reported. He added that while there is a need for a relationship, the company shouldn't talk trash about its fighter in public.
Kogan said the only reason Diaz is coming back to the UFC is because he needs to in order to make a living, Bloody Elbow reported.
"If he was (Floyd) Mayweather making $30 million a fight, he'd probably never come back and you'd never hear from him again, but he doesn't get paid that kind of money that people think he does," he said.
"You can't sit out forever," the manager added, MMA Fighting reported. "You have to at some point come back, but at least he came back on his own terms. He got the fight that he wanted against a top three contender."
Diaz's bout with dos Anjos is scheduled for UFC on Fox 13, which will take place on Dec. 13rd in Phoenix, Ariz.
