Nate Diaz, Deontay Wilder Express Interest in MMA Fight

Let’s get these contract written up asap..
Real fight s--t respect to a real fighter down to fight for real. All love to boxing
But this is different REAL 👊🏼 s--t LFG
1993 🥋 pic.twitter.com/IFzcMx4Fpd

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) November 9, 2023

While mixed martial artists switching to boxing has become commonplace in recent times, Deontay Wilder might soon become the first high-level pugilist to compete in MMA in over a decade.

Crossover fights are a hot topic of discussion right now with Francis Ngannou putting on a stunning performance in a near upset of World Boxing Council champ Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last month. Considering the lack of MMA opponents for Ngannou in Professional Fighters League, Wilder’s name immediately popped up as a potential boxing opponent for the former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champ.

Ngannou and Wilder’s camps have stated that talks of a potential clash have already begun. Furthermore, PFL co-owner Donn Davis has proposed a mixed-rules fight between the Cameroonian and “The Bronze Bomber.” However, it seems like Wilder is open to competing in MMA, whether it be against Ngannou or someone else, and another name has already come up.

Asked if he would get inside an MMA cage with longtime lightweight and welterweight contender Nate Diaz, the 38-year-old told InsideFighting, “I’ll be down to get in there with Nate for sure... we going to see there’s only one way to find out.”

Diaz responded to Wilder’s comments, lauding the former WBC heavyweight champ for agreeing to fight in MMA. The Stockton, California native wrote, “Let’s get these contract written up asap.. Real fight s--t respect to a real fighter down to fight for real. All love to boxing But this is different REAL s--t LFG 1993 ”

Diaz hung up his UFC gloves after a submission win over fellow veteran Tony Ferguson in September 2022. Diaz then made a foray into boxing, dropping a unanimous decision against Jake Paul in August. Meanwhile, Wilder hasn’t competed since a first-round knockout win over Finland’s Robert Helenius that saw him bounce back from consecutive stoppage losses against Fury.

If Wilder fights in mixed martial arts, he would be the first former champ of a major boxing organization to do so since James Toney faced Randy Couture at UFC 118 in August of 2010. On that occasion, “Lights Out” was quickly taken down by the former amateur wrestling standout and two-division UFC champ, then submitted with an arm-triangle choke.