Nate Diaz has ruled out a trilogy bout with Conor McGregor until the Irishman returns to winning ways.
The American is searching for an opponent for the final fight of his UFC contract after losing to Leon Edwards in his previous bout.
Diaz has hinted at the possibility of facing his two-time rival McGregor upon his return with a lack of options available early next year.
However he has since ruled out fighting McGregor, tweeting: "I’m not fighting Conor until his leg grows back and he beats some people so we know he can even fight still until then. Can I get on the January card, thanks."
During his long career in the UFC, Diaz has fought some of the sport's biggest names, including swapping victories with McGregor in 2016.
Their trilogy has yet to be completed with both men now heading towards the end of their UFC contracts.
Diaz is struggling to find an opponent despite welterweight star Vicente Luque offering to face him in the new year.
He also appeared to verbally agree a showdown with rival Dustin Poirier this week for the pair to meet in January.
However this has since been ruled out by Diaz who claimed that the UFC are unwilling to sanction the fight.
It was also reported that the UFC had offered Diaz a new contract with an eye for a potential trilogy with McGregor once he is fit to return.
The Irish star is currently recovering from his broken leg injury against Poirier at UFC 264 earlier this year.
Would you like to see a trilogy between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor? Let us know in the comments section below
After back-to-back defeats McGregor will be hoping for a winning return in a bid to revive his lightweight career.
He also has just two fights remaining on his current deal with the promotion and will be hoping to earn himself a world title shot further down the line.
But legendary MMA referee John McCarthy believes that McGregor and Diaz should make a trilogy outside of the UFC.
"I'm trying to bring you into the thought process of 'let's make some money,'" the legendary referee said on his podcast Weighing In with Josh Thomson.
"Because neither guy needs a promoter, they both have huge names and they have big fan followings.
"If you could take Conor, who is allowed to box under his contract, and Nate who fights out his contract and leaves the UFC, why would Conor and Nate not get together and promote their own boxing match?
"It could be under Showtime or Triller or whatever? They could bring in a promoter or they could do it on their own and they could make a killing."
