Nate Diaz calls Ilia Topuria 'lame' and a 'punching bag'
Nate Diaz turned Ilia Topuria's earlier insult back on him at the Ki MMA launch event, calling him “lame” and a “punching bag” in comments reported by MMA Fighting.
Nate Diaz has responded to criticism Ilia Topuria made about four months earlier, turning the insult back on him at Scott Coker's Ki MMA launch event in Los Angeles on 15 September 2026.
“He’s f*cking lame. He’s a punching bag. He called me a punching bag, he’s a f*cking punching bag,” Diaz said, as reported by MMA Fighting.
Diaz also compared the UFC's build-up of Topuria to its build-up of Conor McGregor.
Topuria lost his lightweight title and unbeaten record when Justin Gaethje beat him at UFC Freedom 250 in June 2026.
Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing
More MMA from Combat Sports UK
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta faces Johnny Walker in UFC Vegas 124 heavyweight main event
- Islam Makhachev says his team has talked about a middleweight move: 'It would be hard'
- Ciryl Gane on Josh Hokit's trash talk: 'You can insult my mum, you don't know my mum'
- Ilia Topuria on coaching TUF against Paddy Pimblett: 'It's something that could happen'
The UK fight briefing
The stories, results and upcoming fights worth knowing. Every Friday.