Former UFC lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz wants to explore other options outside the Octagon, based on a tweet he sent to UFC President Dana White early this evening.

“@ufc @danawhite I would like to request to be released from the @ufc Its time for me to be on my way .. ?” Diaz wrote.

The Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fighter is 4-2 in his past six bouts, most recently scoring a big knockout over fellow ex-title challenger Gray Maynard at The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 Finale in November.

Also boasting wins over lightweight notables Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller, the Stockton bad boy lost back-to-back pivotal matchups to then-champ Benson Henderson and perennial contender Josh Thomson in December 2012 and April 2013, respectively.

The 28-year-old won season 5 of TUF back in June 2007, defeating fellow grappling ace Manny Gamburyan, and has fought 18 times under the UFC banner since then.

Diaz’s teammate, former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, agreed to a deal with Bellator last week, but the UFC has since matched the offer and given “El Nino” a head coaching spot on TUF 20 opposite titleholder Anthony Pettis.

Melendez will fight “Showtime” with the title on the line shortly after the conclusion of the show, which likely won’t be until the end of the year.

Diaz, who has won five “Fight of the Night,” five “Submission of the Night” and one Knockout of the Night” bonus during his UFC tenure, does not currently have a bout scheduled.

As of about 6 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesday evening, White did not respond to Diaz’s tweet.