PHOENIX – As far as Nate Diaz appearances go, this was probably par for the course.

The co-headliner of Saturday’s UFC on FOX 13 card in Phoenix was scheduled to be part of today’s open workouts for fans at U.S. Airways Center. Upwards of 200 fans turned out in the middle of a work day to watch Junior Dos Santos and Stipe Miocic hit pads, sign autographs and pose for pictures. Diaz’s Saturday opponent, Rafael dos Anjos, was there, too.

But after Diaz’s scheduled time slot was pushed back 30 minutes, that familiar feeling was in the air: Nate Diaz wasn’t coming. That familiarity is more a thing with his brother, Nick, but after Nate’s last year or so of a dicey relationship with his UFC bosses, his no-show didn’t seem that surprising.

The lightweight did manage to make a scheduled series of phone interviews later in the afternoon, though, including one with MMAjunkie. And Diaz said missing the open workout session wasn’t premeditated.

“I didn’t realize it was time to be there,” Diaz told MMAjunkie. “I woke up and they were calling me, and they said, ‘You kinda missed open workouts.’ I kind of slept in. I wish I could’ve made it, but I didn’t make it in time. I had a list of things (from the UFC), but I got in late and I woke up this morning and I looked at it.”

Naturally, once word got around on social media that Diaz wasn’t at the workout session, speculation from some was that it was a way to stick it to his bosses.

But Diaz maintained his relationship with the UFC is fine. After all, he’s fighting on Saturday, isn’t he? And he’s fighting after a layoff of more than a year because he re-upped his deal – because he was out of money, he said.

“I think we’re fine right now,” he said. “It’s what I’ve got to do. I’ve got a fight; I’m obligated. (I didn’t have to re-sign), but I did. And I’ve got to fight this guy. I had no money to eat. My brother’s got to do his thing, I’ve got to do my thing. So it’s time to fight. It’s time to get back at it and time to get some money in my pocket. (Dos Anjos is) the No. 3 guy, so I might as well fight him and see what happens.”

Since a win over Gray Maynard in November 2013, Diaz has been on the shelf. Published report after published report said Diaz had turned down fights rather than return. Those claims came from other fighters, other fighters’ managers and coaches, even UFC President Dana White.

But Diaz said that wasn’t the case. Not with Myles Jury. Not with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“I wasn’t holding out – they just didn’t give me fights,” he said. “They bashed me in public saying I turned down fights, but I never did. A fight never got put together. Now there is one, so that’s my situation. … I never turned down any fight. I never turned down any of them. None of those fights were offered to me. Ever. They’re making it up. They’re blasting it on the Internet, and that’s what people believe.”

People also believed Diaz wasn’t happy with the UFC’s new uniform deal with Reebok that goes into affect in July 2015. After that announcement, a post from Diaz’s official Twitter account said, “Here’s for your b—hass uniforms” and included a meme with clipart of a suited man hoisting a middle finger. The meme said “F—k you” in all caps.

For that, Diaz has a simple explanation: That wasn’t him.

“First of all, I didn’t tweet that – I was hacked,” he said. “But if I feel a certain way, I’m going to say it. Other people should speak up instead of saying yes to everybody, because that just downgrades yourself. The whole UFC is a bunch of yes men and they act appreciative when none of them really are. And that’s just fine. I’m going to say how I feel, and no bullsh–ting.”

The Twitter thing aside, and the open workout no-show aside, Diaz (17-9 MMA, 12-7 UFC) has a big fight on Saturday against dos Anjos (22-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC). It’s the type of fight that could make people start to forget about those other things, especially with an impressive performance.

It also could be the type of performance that would throw him right into the title mix discussion, despite being 1-2 in his past three. And that’s really what Diaz is looking for with a win over dos Anjos. His friend and longtime teammate Gilbert Melendez had a shot at lightweight champ Anthony Pettis over the weekend and was submitted in the second round.

So a chance to avenge that loss is of paramount importance to Season 5 winner of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

“That’s my objective is to fight Anthony Pettis,” Diaz said. “He just fought my partner, and now it’s my turn. I have an objective here. I’m impressed that he beat Gilbert. That’s the No. 1 or No. 2 guy. But I’m going to get that motherf—-ker. Now I’m going to fight, and I’m going to get that dude. Whether it’s today or tomorrow, he’s gonna get got.”

For more on UFC on FOX 13, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.