Cesar Gracie: UFC needs to throw 'millions and millions of dollars' at Nate Diaz for him to return

Cesar Gracie says the UFC must present a very lucrative offer to Nate Diaz if it wants him back.

After defeating Jorge Masvidal by majority decision in their boxing match Saturday, UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards was among the names Diaz called out.

Diaz parted ways with the UFC in September 2022, but Dana White said the octagon will always be his home. If Diaz was to return to the UFC, his coach expects that he’ll be offered a big bag of money.

“Millions and millions of dollars, whatever they’re paying their highest people,” Gracie told Submission Radio. “Nate is such an icon of the sport. He’s fought and deserves the things he’s gotten. He had to get everything the hard way.

“He brings star power with him. The event (in Anaheim) was sold out. It was all Nate Diaz over there. No one would have gone to that show without Nate Diaz, so I don’t know. It was so huge. His fan base is so incredible.”

With Conor McGregor withdrawing from his return fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 due to injury, Gracie would like to see Diaz slide into that opportunity. Diaz and McGregor split their two appearances, and both fighters have always said a trilogy is inevitable.

“I mean, obviously that’s outside of my realm what the UFC is thinking,” Gracie said. “So, it’s almost like I’m speculating. But me in my position, I think that would be great. I think a trilogy probably makes a lot of sense for both of those guys.

“Chandler and McGregor is a good fight too. But I mean, just the history of Nate and McGregor, I think it would be the bigger fan fight if they had a trilogy. In my opinion, that’s what I’m thinking.”