Jon Anik Says Nate Diaz is a Top Five Draw in the UFC, Will Probably Fight This Year

UFC play-by-play announcer Jon Anik spoke with MMAjunkie about Nate Diaz’s future in the UFC and more. Highlights are below:

On when Diaz will fight again: “I do think you’ll see Nate Diaz at least once here in 2018, and we’ll pray to the masses that it happens.”

On Diaz’s impact on the sport: “For a lot of fans, I think the Diaz Brothers were what really drew us into martial arts. I remember when I was cutting my teeth, and I would tell people, ‘Just go watch Nick Diaz. If you’re wondering why I love the sport so much, just go watch Nick Diaz.’ There’s just something about these guys that is just so compelling and so captivating.”

On Diaz’s value as a draw: “If you’re asking me, I think he’s a top five pay-per-view draw in the company right now. I think Daniel Cormier is in that mix because he’s been buoyed by the two Jon Jones fights. But I think Nate Diaz can carry a pay-per-view without Conor McGregor. Will he be afforded that opportunity? I don’t know. I’m not sure we’re going to see Nick again, but I definitely think we are going to see Nate Diaz. I think it’s interesting when you talk about him as a pay-per-view draw. What do the internal metrics say about how much Nate Diaz moves that needle relative to his opponent (in his first two pay-per-view main events), Conor McGregor? … I think Nate Diaz can carry a pay-per-view and do 400,000-plus pay-per-view buys on his own. I really do. Even in a non-championship situation. I don’t know if my bosses agree, but I’d love to see him be afforded that opportunity.”