Nate Diaz mocks ‘punching bag’ Ilia Topuria for UFC White House loss

Nate Diaz took aim at Ilia Topuria during an appearance at the unveiling of Scott Coker's Ki MMA venture, calling the former UFC two-division champion a "punching bag" following his loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC White House in June.

Topuria's defeat to Gaethje was a watershed moment in his career. The 155-pound champ not only surrendered his lightweight title but also suffered his first professional loss, ending an undefeated streak that had seen him capture belts at both 155 and 145 pounds with knockout victories over Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, and Alexander Volkanovski. Those accomplishments had drawn frequent comparisons to Conor McGregor, who won titles in the same weight classes.

Diaz, who handed McGregor his first UFC loss in 2016, saw Topuria's rise and fall as a similar arc. "They made a big deal out of him just like they did off Conor when he started coming," Diaz said. "You get a little early pump-up before you've been in a real fight, that's what happened to him. He got into a real fight with Justin Gaethje, and now look at you." Diaz suggested Topuria had been overrated and was exposed against elite competition.

Meanwhile, Diaz is plotting his own comeback. The 41-year-old former UFC star returned to MMA in May after a four-year layoff, losing to Mike Perry at the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano event. He has expressed interest in fighting for Ki MMA and aims to compete at least twice in 2027, targeting action beginning in January at the earliest. Diaz also noted his willingness to compete in boxing or MMA formats as he looks to resume an active fighting schedule.