Long-forgotten feuds rarely resurface in combat sports—but when Nate Diaz is involved, expect fireworks. The Stockton legend, known for his war with Conor McGregor, may be eyeing a new chapter in boxing. This time, his opponent isn’t a rookie or celebrity. So who is it? Well, one little guess would be that the mystery fighter has a tight relationship with Islam Makhachev and the AKA camp, having trained alongside him and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Still no idea? Well, it’s none other than Josh Thomson.
Thomson recently revealed on the Weighing In podcast that he was approached about a boxing showdown with Diaz roughly six months ago. The bout was planned as a co-main event on a card that never materialized, but the desire to settle old business clearly remains. “There was some talk that there was a potential boxing match that I could have had with Nate. It just kinda dissipated,” Thomson said.
He further added, “I would love to have had that happen.” They have a long history. ‘The Punk’ made his UFC return in devastating fashion by finishing Diaz with a head kick and follow-up punches, marking the only time ‘The Stockton Slugger’ has been knocked out by strikes in his 34-fight career.
While Jorge Masvidal has a TKO victory over Diaz, it was via doctor stoppage due to a cut. Josh Thomson’s is still the only stoppage achieved with clean strikes. Thomson, who has long since retired from MMA, continues to train at Roger Gracie’s academy in Texas and remains involved in the sport through coaching and commentary work.
Though he has ruled out an MMA comeback, Thomson states a boxing match—especially against someone like Diaz—is not out of the question. “If it was just a straight boxing match, yeah,” he said. “I could for sure do that.” With Nate Diaz now a free agent and pursuing headline fights in boxing, the idea of a rematch with Josh Thomson holds both historical significance and new excitement. For Diaz, it’s an opportunity to rewrite the one chapter that ended in a knockout loss.
For ‘The Punk,’ it may be one last dance with an old foe and a chance to settle things once and for all—this time with gloves. Additionally, while Josh Thomson may be on the fence about getting his last dance with ‘The Stockton Slugger,’ he is quite confident that it is also the last run for Islam Makhachev in the UFC.
Josh Thomson hints at retirement for Islam Makhachev
Josh Thomson may not know if his comeback will ever happen, but when it comes to Islam Makhachev, he is certain that the end is near. Thomson recently shifted his attention to the future of his longtime training partner from Dagestan on the same podcast. And his outlook? A quick, deliberate run before a graceful retreat.
‘The Punk,’ like Khabib Nurmagomedov before him, feels Makhachev has no desire to compete past his prime—or in battles that do not excite him. The former UFC lightweight champion already relinquished the 155-pound title to pursue gold in a second division. While the idea of Makhachev becoming a kingpin at 170 is something his fans definitely want, Thomson’s words temper those expectations.
“I think he’ll defend it one time,” he remarked on Weighing In, confidently predicting only one welterweight title defense before Islam Makhachev walks away. He’s not seeking a long reign; he’s looking for a clean exit. And it is not about fear or decline; it is about control. “He wants to fight guys that want to fight,” Josh Thomson added, emphasizing Islam Makhachev’s dislike for flashy, evasive opponents. If the title challenger is a game opponent like Shavkat Rakhmonov, Makhachev may stick around.
But if it’s someone like Ian Garry, who doesn’t bring the kind of battle Makhachev values, Thomson doubts Islam will even bother. He said, “I also believe it’s gonna probably be a Shavkat [Rakhmonov], maybe a Sean Brady if Sean Brady gets past… Ian Garry, there’s talk that they’re scheduled to fight.” Makhachev, already 34, sees the writing on the wall.
He’s more concerned with legacy than mileage, and when the time comes, he wants to depart as the king of the division rather than a cautionary tale. What do you think? Is it already his last run? Let us know in the comments.
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