Nate Diaz once revealed who he regards as the toughest opponent he’s faced in his whole career, and it’s not who you might expect.

The California native has participated in many fights in both boxing and the UFC, sharing the ring and the cage with a whole host of big names. Conor McGregor, Jake Paul, Jorge Masvidal, Tony Ferguson, and Rafael dos Anjos are just a few of the stars he’s fought in either boxing or MMA, or in some instances, both.

Diaz is currently 1-1 in bouts against Irish superstar McGregor, and he’s arguably his biggest rival in the UFC, but it wasn’t who he named as his toughest opponent.

He first faced Notorious at UFC 196 in March 2016, where he won the bout by submission. Later that year, the pair rematched at UFC 202 in a five-round classic, which McGregor edged on the judges’ scorecards.

After leaving the UFC following his victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in 2022, Diaz declined to re-sign with the world’s leading MMA promotion. Instead, he decided to embark on a boxing career, which led to him facing Jake Paul in an August 2023 bout.

Diaz lost the bout by unanimous decision, with the ringside judges only giving him a handful of rounds. His return to professional boxing a little under a year later was far more successful, as he scored a majority decision over former UFC rival Jorge Masvidal.

However, despite going to war in each of these pay-per-view contests, none of the men mentioned above gave Diaz his hardest fight, according to the man himself.

Instead, Diaz went back all the way to 2008 when he went up against fellow American Josh Neer at UFC Fight Night 15.

Nate Diaz Reveals His Toughest Ever Opponent

“There’s a guy that I fought [in 2008] named Josh Neer,” he revealed during an appearance on Bradley Martin’s Podcast.

Nate first became fully aware of Neer’s abilities after his brother, Nick Diaz, fought him at UFC 62 in August 2006. Nate was immediately impressed with Neer’s toughness.

“Josh Neer fought my brother, and they were fighting for three rounds, hard, and Nick’s doing his thing, hitting him a lot, and I was like, ‘This f****** guy is crazy!’ And then Nick ended up finishing him in the third round. Most people Nick finished [at the time] were all in the first round and maybe the second round.”

Two years later, it would be Nate’s turn to step into the Octagon with Neer. Their bout served as the main event of a September 2008 UFC Fight Night event in Omaha, Nebraska.

“Time went by, and then he went down to 155 where I was fighting at. And I asked for a better opponent. I was beating people – that’s when I first got to the UFC, I beat a few people. And so they gave me Josh Neer, who was one of the top five guys.”

Diaz recalled: “That’s right when I started to fight top people. And it was my hardest fight.”

Explaining why Neer presented such a tough challenge, Nate said: “I watched him fight so much, and then trained so perfectly for him that everything was like – he’d throw punches, I slipped it right under it, grabbed him and everything. But he countered everything, and it was like if you watch that fight, me versus Josh Neer, it’s a hundred miles an hour. It’s a good fight. He’s a motherf*****. He’s my boy now, though, we’re homies!”

Despite finding Neer a tough foe to crack, Diaz was crowned the winner via split decision. Neer did all he could to gain a different outcome, attempting four submissions throughout the fight and constantly pressuring Nate.

Michael Owen has urged Thomas Tuchel to make wholesale changes as he named his bold England XI for their third and final 2026 World Cup group stage match against Panama.

England got their World Cup campaign off to a brilliant start when they beat Croatia 4-2. With confidence high, the Three Lions were expected to beat Ghana a few days later and book their place in the last 32 of the competition.

However, England were far from their best at Kansas City Stadium as they played out a goalless draw with the African nation.

Tuchel is now expected to make multiple changes to his starting lineup when England face Panama at New York New Jersey Stadium on Saturday.

The Three Lions have already booked their place in the last 32 of the competition but need to secure victory over Thomas Christiansen’s side to clinch top spot in Group L.

With the match on the horizon, Owen has told the Daily Mail the 11 England players he thinks should start.

Michael Owen’s England 11 to Take on Panama

REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

Despite England needing a victory to clinch first place in their group, Owen thinks that Tuchel should heavily rotate his squad. He is already looking ahead to the knockout rounds and would rest the 11 players he would play in the last 32.

With that in mind, he thinks only four England players should retain their place to face Panama: Ezri Konsa, Djed Spence, Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke.

In goal, Owen thinks Dean Henderson should step in for Jordan Pickford. In defence, Owen would play Jarell Quansah at right-back, Spence at left-back, and partner Dan Burn with Konsa in the middle.

Owen wants to see Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson given a rest, with Jordan Henderson and Kobbie Mainoo replacing them.

Gordon and Madueke retain their places on the flanks, while Owen would rest Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane and play Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins instead.

Despite the weakened team, Owen thinks his XI ‘should’ still beat Panama. Explaining his side, he said:

“I’d stick with Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke, who have played the opening two matches, because I’d bring in Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka once we’re beyond the group stage.

“We’ve seen this week, important players are starting to pick up little niggles. We have to think long term, and our top stars should not be risked – or needed – against Panama.”

Thomas Tuchel Hints at Changes

REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

Tuchel has hinted he will rotate his squad for their match against Panama. Speaking after the draw against Ghana, he said, per the Independent:

“I was not even sure if to do the full rotation [if England had beaten Ghana]. Maybe we would have. But I am not shy to do some rotation now.

“Some players should be on the pitch but maybe it will be more moderate. It’s not always fair if you just rotate your players in and say, ‘Okay, let’s perform.’ Let’s see.

“I like, for example, the centre backs today. They were good together. I like Elliot Anderson, he had a step forward and a good performance, maybe a bit better than against Croatia.”

If England manage to beat Panama and top the group, they will face one of the best performing third-placed sides in the last 32. As things stand, they will play Ecuador.

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a move for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as Roberto De Zerbi looks to add a third new midfielder to his squad this summer, according to TEAMtalk.

Tottenham have had an outstanding summer transfer window already, and it isn’t even July yet.

ENIC have gone into overdrive and delivered four confirmed signings for De Zerbi already in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka and Jan Paul van Hecke, with the former three arriving on free transfers.

Spurs are far from finished there though, with multiple additions expected across the midfield and attack ahead of next season.

There was surprise when it was announced that the north Londoners were working on an ambitious deal to bring Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Spurs still working to find an agreement on that deal.

Then it was confirmed that Spurs wanted West Ham United’s Portugal international Mateus Fernandes, and that any potential transfer was seen as separate to the Tonali pursuit.

That may not be the end of their business in that position either, while new additions are expected all across the frontline as De Zerbi aims to transform a team that has underperformed for two years in the Premier League.

Tottenham Discuss Adam Wharton Move Internally

via Reuters

According to TEAMtalk, even though Tottenham are currently working simultaneously on deals to sign Tonali and Fernandes, there is a belief that they could actually look to sign three new players in the position in this window.

As well as the Italian and Portuguese stars, the report adds that Spurs have an interest in Palace star Wharton and have discussed internally about making a move for the England international, who missed out on a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad at this summer’s World Cup.

The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the most impressive players in his position in the Premier League in recent seasons, and he is also attracting interest from Liverpool, according to GIVEMESPORT sources.

Wharton Won’t Come on the Cheap

via Reuters

Crystal Palace will be in no mood to sell Wharton on the cheap this summer, especially at a time when Manchester City have just paid well in excess of £100m to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

The Eagles will want Wharton in midfield for new manager Pierre Sage for their Europa League campaign, as they look to make a big impact on the competition having won the Europa Conference League last term.

Palace are said to want £100m to even consider a sale of the Englishman, who is on a long-term contract at Selhurst Park, and that would be a huge outlay for Tottenham, and only realistic should they fail to land one of Tonali or Fernandes.

Tottenham are also still in talks over a potential move to make Joao Palhinha’s loan move from Bayern Munich permanent, and he could be the lower-cost third option should Spurs pull off a sensational double swoop to sign Tonali and Fernandes.