Conor McGregor Rival Nate Diaz Reveals Bizarre Reason To Turn Down Hollywood Offer 

UFC veteran reveals turning down Conor McGregor's role from the new Road House movie after knowing about Jake Gyllenhaal.

Conor McGregor Rival Nate Diaz Reveals Bizarre Reason To Turn Down Hollywood Offer 

Nate Diaz didn't want to work with Jake Gyllenhaal and turned down Conor McGregor's role (via Instagram/Imago)

Nate Diaz was reportedly too unapologetic for Hollywood, costing him a major opportunity in the entertainment industry’s spotlight. Originally, Diaz was chosen to star alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Road House movie remake. However, the Stockton native allegedly turned down the role, which ultimately went to UFC superstar Conor McGregor afterwards. 

The Road House movie was released last year, surprising MMA fans with McGregor’s return after a long hiatus. McGregor played the movie’s main villain, Knox, a violent and unhinged fighter who thrived on chaos and destruction. In an interview with The HJR Podcast, Diaz explained his refusal stemmed from concerns about Gyllenhaal’s controversial past movie roles.

I was supposed to do Conor McGregor’s part in Road House. That was my part, but I was like I’m not fighting, go in there and losing a fight. I’ve seen the original Roadhouse. So I’m the main bad guy? I’m supposed to fight who’s the Patrick Swayze then? And they said it was Jake Gyllenhaal, and I’m like, ‘I ain’t going to no movie and losing to no ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ F*ck that. I’m good. I can’t do it.

In his early acting days, Gyllenhaal starred in Brokeback Mountain, released in 2005, portraying a cowboy involved in a homosexual romance. His performance drew critical acclaim for breaking ground in mainstream cinema with its emotional honesty. The film became a cultural milestone, earning numerous awards and boosting Gyllenhaal’s status as a serious, boundary-pushing actor.

However, it seems like Diaz didn’t like that and turned down a multi-million dollar offer for a massive Hollywood debut. McGregor, on the other hand, earned at least $5.5 million, making him the highest-paid debutant in Hollywood’s history. He described working with Gyllenhaal as a learning experience, and their chemistry was palpable during the movie and during the promotions. 

Road House became a massive hit, smashing expectations and dominating the streaming numbers during its opening weekend globally. It also broke Amazon Prime’s streaming record, becoming the platform’s most-watched original movie within just days of its release. However, Diaz couldn’t be a part of this success, but losing out on opportunities such as this isn’t new for the fighter. 

Nate Diaz gets replaced from the Russian reality show following a brawl 

After retiring from UFC, Nate Diaz has tried his luck in boxing and has also had other opportunities. Recently, Diaz and Jon Jones were in Thailand filming a Russian reality TV show featuring global MMA fighters. Tensions reportedly escalated during filming when Diaz got into a heated argument that quickly turned into a physical altercation with staff.

Nate Diaz got into a brawl in Thailand
Nate Diaz got into a brawl in Thailand (via X)

In the viral videos, Diaz threw punches during the brawl, prompting security to intervene and separate him from others. As a result of the disruption and repeated warnings, Diaz was officially removed from the show entirely. Jones was there and watched the whole incident unfold in front of him, and in a recent interview, he shared his insights.

We had one of our young fighters, a guy named Zalik, who was playing with Nate. He wanted to play-fight with Nate. Nate, kind of came in a little bit on edge. I think he had some previous beef with some Russian fighters, so he was a little bit on edge when he got here. Play-fighting with Nate was not the best idea. It became serious right away, and we had to replace Nate.

Diaz is notorious for public altercations, often involving his entourage, which have occasionally resulted in legal consequences and media coverage. His ‘Gangster’ persona is a primary reason for the younger Diaz brother to attain global fame.

The Stockton native once choked a man unconscious in New Orleans, allegedly in self-defense, highlighting his readiness for confrontation. Early in his career, he didn’t even hesitate to start a brawl on national television alongside his brother. Expecting something to happen when a Diaz brother is around has become a normal occurrence in the MMA community.

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