Nick Diaz isn't happy.

Rather than see his brother Nate making headlines for his resurgent performance over Michael Johnson at UFC on FOX 17, much of the post-fight chatter has centered around his paycheck.

Speaking with Chael Sonnen on his podcast, Diaz said he'd rather see his brother retire than fight for a fight purse of $20,000 to show and $20,000 to win.

"It makes me sick," Diaz said his brother's disclosed salary. "It makes me sick what I get paid. It makes me sick for what I've done in the past. Then you see this guy [McGregor] come out and do really well and it drives you crazy.

"[Nate] is stuck in the stone age back there, but I'm trying to help bring him some understanding. It's a quick fix, though. They really sell him short, both of us. As far as the 20 and 20, these guys are laughing, thinking it's a joke. No, dude. That's what he gets paid."

That quick fix? A date with UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor. Nate was one of three fighters on Saturday to call out the Irishman in a post-fight interview and brother Nick agrees that it's the only fight to make.

"You can't lie to the fans," said Diaz. "They know what they want to see. It's the fight that needs to happen. My brother's definitely relevant. You can't just act like he's not. This fight should probably happen, as far as I'm concerned. You've got these other guys that aren't very popular, even though they're holding the belt. Belts aren't important. It's the fights that are important. Important to the fans, important to the show. That's more money for everybody."

"I think Conor was saying he wanted the fight, too, one time on account of somebody pulling out because they were hurt. He was asking for the fight, too, so give him what he wants."

Diaz also took some exception to comments made this week by UFC commentator Joe Rogan on his podcast. Speaking with UFC veteran Brendan Schaub, Rogan joked about promoting a McGregor-Diaz clash by saying the two would need to be separated by glass, much like a prison visit.

"If my brother signed a fight with somebody he's not going to punch him in the face," said Diaz. "Come on. He's not going to show up at someone's door when he's on his way to breakfast. The fight's already signed. The fight's already happening. Have I ever punched anybody I was going to fight? It's not going to happen.

"However, if [McGregor] doesn't want to acknowledge what my brother said out there, in my opinion, that's a huge insult. Hey, who the f**k are you? You're going to get punked out. We're all on planet Earth walking around. We have to be at the same places. You want to get punked out in front of all your fans? My brother's fighting for 20 and 20. It doesn't matter to him. He's doing a free fight."

Diaz doesn't instill much confidence that the promotion leading up to that bout wouldn't get physical, but says McGregor could be just as likely to take it there.

"[Rogan and Schaub] didn't come off out of line or anything," said Diaz. "For instance, like my brother's 'going to hit him before the fight happens.' Someone could definitely get slapped up, but that could easily go both ways. Conor's going back and forth with guys and you don't see anything really happen, but they probably would happen on the outs and they would on account of nobody acknowledging what's what."

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Fortunes changed for five. Dave Meltzer explains how Rafael dos Anjos, Donald Cerrone, Alistair Overeem, Juinior Dos Santos and Nate Diaz move forward following UFC on FOX 17.

'I think it was lucky.' Head coach Andre Pederneiras says Jose Aldo was "maybe overconfident" against Conor McGregor and didn't stick to their gameplan.

Tough sledding. Dave Meltzer explains why the NFL, Star Wars and a quick KO may have hurt the overall ratings for UFC on FOX 17.

Ouch. Lance Palmer earns event-high $28,000 in title loss at WSOF 26.

RIP. Emanuel Yarbrough, largest UFC fighter ever, passes away at 51.

MEDIA STEW

MMA Fighting's E. Casey Leydon takes a look back at the sights and sounds of a memorable fight week.

Gabi Garcia talks training leading up to Rizin.

What to watch at Bellator 150: Marcos Galvao and Eduardo Dantas.

AXS' top finishes of 2015.

Luke Rockhold hits the cringe and gives props to Conor McGregor.

Keep your head on a swivel around the champ.

Long watches.

...

TWEETS

Beef.

Now he wants me to beg??? I may have misunderstood that he wanted my belt... |||------>>>>Agora ele quer que eu... Posted by Rafael Dos Anjos on Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Stopping Running @thenotoriousmma!! Time for the world to know who the best featherweight is. Man... https://t.co/EckM8awNss — Team Frankie Perez (@TeamFrankieP) December 23, 2015

Stopping Running @thenotoriousmma!! Time for the world to know who the best featherweight is. Man Up ! @frankieedgar @ufc @danawhiteufc A photo posted by Frankie Perez (@teamfrankieperez) on Dec 22, 2015 at 6:41pm PST

never turned down the fight @bethecorreia you wish that was the reason.You probably should get a warm up fight in & last more than 30second — Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) December 22, 2015

I will gladly step in @ufc cage w/ you in spring @bethecorreia But we will see if that alligator mouth of yours will step up to fight — Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) December 22, 2015

Dear Bethe, I'm ready to dance when you are! !! #ufc #wmma Sincerely, Marion — Marion Reneau (@BelizeanBruiser) December 22, 2015

Difference b/w "The Snake" and the "Human Anaconda" is that I'll rip ur head off its vertebrae then #dab 4 NY pic.twitter.com/XjOL0zjc0m — Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) December 22, 2015

Ronda back?

Get well soon.

Sorry to dissapoint @KyleNoke and everyone else. I was excited and more than ready to go. I plan to be back soon! https://t.co/synJNC8nyg — #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) December 23, 2015

Xmas is only two days away. I've been in bed since surgery and I have 32ppl to buy for. Wish I was Santa clause. — Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) December 22, 2015

With Khabib?

Cut off more than Paige.

Done deal! Line out the door. Good thing Seinfield Soup Nazi episode is on. Hope everyone's... https://t.co/3vP6uYNbfc — Urijah Faber (@UrijahFaber) December 23, 2015

Done deal! Line out the door. Good thing Seinfield Soup Nazi episode is on. Hope everyone's having a great holiday season!Christmas cut A photo posted by Urijah Faber (@urijahfaber) on Dec 22, 2015 at 4:39pm PST





Nope.

Therapy after a long day training for @bellatormma 149 #yolo @ Mammoth Mountain https://t.co/qeLTjnf6QO — Royce Gracie (@realroyce) December 23, 2015

Therapy after a long day training for @bellatormma 149 #yolo A photo posted by Royce Gracie (@realroyce) on Dec 22, 2015 at 8:41pm PST





Buds.

About to go play horse with Blake for that bag of money in that lunch sack lol pic.twitter.com/gMDpfxfxkK — Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) December 23, 2015

The more you know.

Many times when you have a fight with a lot of blood, you can smell the iron from the blood #AskBJM https://t.co/rRiVoT0rtO — Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) December 23, 2015

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Dec. 22 2015)

Kelvin Gastelum out, Alex Morono vs. Kyle Noke at UFC 195: Lawler vs. Condit

Teemu Packalen vs. Lukasz Sajewski at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Mousasi

Jarjis Danho vs. Daniel Omielanczuk at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Mousasi

Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.