Khamzat Chimaev vs. Nate Diaz official as main event for UFC 279

Nate Diaz has been asking for a fight and now he’s got one.

According to ESPN, the rumored fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Diaz is official. The fight will take place at UFC 279 on Sept. 10 in Las Vegas, NV and will act as the main event. The news was confirmed to Brett Okamoto who spoke with UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell.

Diaz has been asking for his UFC release for weeks, even going so far as calling out Dana White for holding him “hostage.” This will be the last fight on his contract.

“I am going to handle Nate Diaz’s funeral with the UFC,” Chimaev told ESPN through a translator.

The bout has been rumored for some time, ever since Chimaev defeated Gilbert Burns in a FOTY syle bout.

Chimaev has opened a -1100 favorite against Diaz, who has lost his last two fights and hasn’t secured a win since defeating Anthony Pettis in 2019.