A longtime UFC gangster is eyeing Topuria as a rival: "That little guy is doing a great job."

The largest mixed martial arts organization, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has always thrived on fierce rivalries that pushed it beyond the realm of the combat sports niche. Many names have helped position this discipline as a dominant industry throughout its history, but two undoubtedly stood out for the massive numbers achieved in their two fights: Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor .

The first of them, born in Stockton, California, has always stood out from the rest with his gangster attitude within the UFC. An athlete forged on the streets, he and his brother, Nick Diaz, have been involved in numerous altercations with other fighters. All in all, Nate Diaz is synonymous with big numbers , media attention, and can always prove to be an attractive fight for UFC stars.

Well, the Californian recently expressed interest in fighting El Matador, the current UFC lightweight champion. "That little Ilia Topuria is doing a great job. He's a little undersized for me, but that and the one against Conor McGregor are probably the best fights," he noted in an interview with the Out Cold podcast.

Nate Diaz, however, hasn't lost sight of the possibility of eventually completing a trilogy with former lightweight champion Conor McGregor. "If I could fight anyone right now, I'd fight Conor McGregor," the younger Diaz said . "There's no one else to fight, really, right now. I'd like him to come back and impress everyone first. Not that I need to, but it would be great to see him back. Everyone hates him. I'd like to beat the shit out of someone who's at the top of the world, and I think he has the ability to do that," the Stockton native declared.

Furthermore, Nate Diaz doesn't rule out making another foray into the noble art, although he seemed too ambitious for what could actually happen. "And as for boxing, obviously Canelo or Crawford. I'm not asking for anything, but when I beat someone up, I'm going after those sons of bitches too... That's my plan," he concluded.