by Dane McGuire

Following his submission victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279, veteran Nate Diaz fought out his UFC contract and now looks to step away and pursue other ventures including his own promotion.

Sports Illustrated revealed by way of a statement from the Diaz team that his pending Real Fight Inc. “will focus on promoting combat sports shows, specifically boxing, MMA and Brazilian

jiu-jitsu.”

The promotion is currently seeking a license in California per Diaz rep Zach Rosenfield.

The statement also said, “the new venture has no bearing on his status as a fighter, where he will continue to be very active. Real Fight, Inc. is his expansion into the business side of the sport where he has been a fixture for close to 20 years.”

With this in mind, Diaz is also the talk of the town elsewhere, including the world of bare knucke.

“I can’t tell you whether he’s coming or not, but I can tell you that we want him here at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and we’re going to do everything we can do to get him a bare-knuckle fight,” BKFC President David Feldmen said on The Bare Knuckle Show.

Feldman is hoping to put together a fight with fellow UFC veteran Mike Perry.

“I think that the fans would absolutely love to see, both have the same type of personality, both just guys that keep fighting, Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry would be a fan’s dream fight,” Feldman added.

“Now is my time to make noise. I have no excuses so I’m calling out all the best fights the fans can be interested in. I want to make waves. Been fighting my whole life and I always will no matter what,” Perry wrote on Twitter.

Should Diaz return to the UFC and face Khamzat Chimaev, the original UFC 279 main event that fell apart after a doctor stopped “The Wolf” mid-weight cut, could the 170-pound title could be in his future? That remains unclear.

“I mean, obviously, if Nate beat Khamzat Chimaev, the No. 3 guy in the world, you’d have to look at Nate, too,” UFC President, Dana White, told The Underground before 279 regarding a Diaz title shot. “Everybody’s talking … like that it’s impossible for Nate Diaz to win this fight.

Nothing is impossible in fighting. Everything is possible.

Despite an up and down relationship, White had nothing but praise for Diaz after UFC 279.