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Nate Diaz explains why he didn’t finish Leon Edwards

Originally posted on HITC | By Jamie Theodosi | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 2:35 PM ET

Nate Diaz has finally shared his perspective on the viral moment he had against Leon Edwards.

In May, Diaz is set to make his return to MMA for the first time since 2022 when he faces Mike Perry on the MVP MMA card streaming on Netflix.

His last appearance saw him submit Tony Ferguson in the fourth round, a bout that came after plans had originally been set for him to face Khamzat Chimaev in what was supposed to be his final UFC fight.

Now, at 40 years old and preparing for his return, Diaz has spoken about one of the most talked-about moments from his career.

Diaz shares reason behind not going for the finish against Leon Edwards

Photo by Kaelin Mendez/Getty Images

Before his last UFC fight, Diaz faced off against Leon Edwards, who was already considered one of the top welterweights in the division.

Over five rounds, Edwards largely controlled the action, putting together a strong performance from start to finish.

But in the final round, Diaz landed a big left hand that left ‘Rocky’ clearly shaken and struggling to stay upright.

What followed was an image that became an instant classic in MMA: Diaz pointing at Edwards as he tried to regain his balance. Despite having him hurt, Diaz didn’t press forward for the finish. Now, he’s explained what happened in that moment.

“I did go after him, let’s clear it up,” Diaz said on This Past Weekend with Theo Von.

“People don’t understand, they just like to make that the narrative of what happened, but don’t forget that this is 23 minutes of fighting in and let me tell you, my eyes… after a certain amount of time… I had sweat in my eyes.

Even though Diaz didn’t manage to secure a late finish over Edwards that night, it still ended up being one of his most memorable moments inside the octagon.

“Of course I look at it and think what I could’ve done… I was trying to get his ass but initially when I socked his ass I couldn’t see his eyes. Hey everybody go fight for 24 minutes then try to get a m—–—–.”

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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