Nate Diaz Claims He's Fighting Conor McGregor at UFC 189

Nate Diaz does what Nate Diaz wants to do. And apparently what one-half of Stockton, California's finest brotherly duo wants to do right now is step in to face Conor McGregor at UFC 189 on July 11. Then again, maybe he really doesn't, but that won't stop him from keeping an already-fire Twitter game ablaze.

After news that a broken rib suffered by featherweight king Jose Aldo was threatening to force the Brazilian phenom out of his highly anticipated title bout with McGregor was broken by Combate (h/t Ariel Helwani), Diaz fired up his social media machine, hoping to throw in his bid to swoop in and save the day by facing the Irish upstart.

In classic Diaz fashion, the message (h/t Middle Easy) (warning: The language in the tweet is NSFW) posted was poignant with strong hashtag usage and emojis to drive home the point he was trying to make.

While the tweet was later deleted, it was out long enough to send a buzz through the MMA community.  

"I'm fighting Conor McGregor @ufc 189 replacement everybody else was broken or on steroids," Diaz wrote. 

Although The Ultimate Fighter Season 5 winner was quick to jump on the issue hovering above the main event at UFC 189, Diaz hasn't stepped foot inside the Octagon since his lackluster showing against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 13 back in December. The Team Cesar Gracie representative missed the contracted weight limit heading into the tilt and then offered little resistance for RDA en route to the future champion's run to a lopsided unanimous-decision victory.

According to Helwani on UFC Tonight, the 30-year-old Diaz was briefly linked to a bout with welterweight scrapper Matt Brown on UFC 189, but that bout never materialized. Diaz is still without an official opponent for his next showing, but until that news surfaces, his social media skills will continue to keep his profile elevated in the MMA world. 

* Update *

Per a report from Ariel Helwani on Wednesday's edition of UFC Tonight there is mutual interest from both Diaz and the UFC for him to step in should Aldo be forced out of his bout with McGregor at UFC 189. There have been no officially changes at the current time, but Helwani's news suggests Diaz may be an option should that happen.

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.