Longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Nate Diaz cashed a sizable check when he submitted Conor McGregor in the UFC 196 pay-per-view (PPV) main event earlier this month in Las Vegas, Nevada (video), but it's not like he's making that Anderson Silva "Mystic Mac" money.

"I made a good amount of money," Diaz told ESPN. "I think they're overexaggerating how much -- I don't feel like anybody did me any favors, I'll tell you that much -- but I made a good chunk of change and I'm grateful. I've been demanding that."

I guess we can forget about that permanent vacation.

While Diaz is pleased with his recent payday, it's safe to say he's not exactly thrilled with the way apologists have been giving McGregor a free pass, especially when you consider how much trash was talked in the lead up to their welterweight showdown. Some fighters (like this guy) even consider it a moral victory for the Irish sensation.

Diaz vents to Brett Okamoto:

"I feel like, honest, I feel like the UFC wants to weed me the f--- out of this position. I don't know if I'm supposed to say that. Sorry. I feel like a lot of people are coming at me now. I see them making a lot of excuses for him, and I think it's kind of ridiculous. I don't think it's just the UFC. It's everybody. People are saying, 'Oh, [McGregor] is great, he's accepted the loss so well.' If I would have lost, people would be saying, 'piece of s--- shouldn't have accepted the fight.' I don't mean to be bitter, but there are a lot of excuses being made for this guy. He's talking about winning the first round. There are five rounds in a fight. Who gives a s--- if you won a round? You lost."

No trophies for second place?

McGregor remains the featherweight champion and can easily repair his image with a victory over Jose Aldo or Frankie Edgar, depending on who gets the nod for UFC 200. As for Diaz, his stock has never been higher, but it doesn't mean squat if UFC doesn't follow up with an equally compelling fight.

Fantasy matchmakers ... what say you?