Joe Rogan believes one of the biggest UFC stars was overlooked during Conor McGregor’s era.
The UFC commentator had a front-row seat when ‘Notorious’ became the biggest star in MMA history.
Conor McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to become the undisputed featherweight champion before going on to stop lightweight titleholder Eddie Alvarez inside two rounds.
After becoming the first dual-weight champion in UFC history, the Irishman crossed over to boxing and made $100 million to face Floyd Mayweather in a fight that negatively impacted his performances inside the UFC Octagon.
Joe Rogan calls Nate Diaz ‘most underappreciated superstar’
At the peak of his powers, Conor McGregor only lost against one man in the UFC, Nate Diaz.
The fan-favorite stepped in on short notice and choked out ‘Mystic Mac’ at UFC 196 in March 2016.
McGregor got his revenge by majority decision when they rematched at UFC 202 later that year.
Still, Joe Rogan believes Diaz did more than enough to establish himself as a UFC superstar.
The 57-year-old insists he was overlooked as the powers that be focused on pushing McGregor.
“That guy is a superstar,” Rogan said about Diaz on his podcast.
“I always said that he was the most underappreciated superstar during the Conor McGregor times.
“I was like, ‘You guys are missing out. You’ve got Conor McGregor but Nate Diaz just beat him and said ‘I’m not surprised, motherf—–!'”
Nate Diaz eyes UFC return
Joe Rogan will be excited about Nate Diaz teasing a return to the UFC in recent weeks.
The 40-year-old cut ties with MMA’s premier promotion after choking out Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in September 2022.
Since then, he’s gone 1-1 in boxing bouts against Jake Paul and his old BMF rival, Jorge Masvidal.
Now he’s named a three-man hit list of fighters who could convince him to make a UFC comeback.
“I plan on going back to the UFC,” Diaz said on the HJR Podcast.
“If they have me, I would like to go back and f—– whoop someone’s ass there.
“I’m not fighting in there because there’s nobody to fight really. It’s kinda slow rolling.
“Whenever [McGregor] is back. Me and him for sure got unfinished business. Got to happen.”
“It’s the most entertaining s— there is,” Diaz added about the BMF title. “I hope you know you’re wearing my belt.
“Those are the guys right there who I wanna fight like Max Holloway. But, besides that, I would like to fight other guys really good too…
“[Ilia] Topuria, he’s really good. But he’s smaller than me.”