Nate Diaz finally answers Jake Paul's $10M challenge
Former UFC star Nate Diaz and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul haven’t even fought yet and they’re already planning a sequel.
During an appearance on “The MMA Hour” on Wednesday, Diaz responded to a $10 million challenge laid out by Paul to have a second fight, wanting it be a mixed-martial arts bout instead of boxing.
“I don’t fight for that organization,” Diaz said of competing on the Professional Fighters League banner of which Paul is under contract with. “If we do something, we’re going to do something real. Co-promotion, if anything."
Diaz hinted that he’s likely to head back to the UFC after his fight with Paul. If he does, a cross-promotional showdown between the UFC and PFL, as unlikely as it is, would probably be the only way the rematch happens.
Paul and Diaz are scheduled to face one another in a 10-round main event boxing match on Aug. 5 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. It’ll be the eighth pro boxing match for Paul (6-1), who’s coming off his first loss to Tommy Fury in February and the first for Diaz.
“My prediction is (I’ll win by) a fifth-round knockout,” Paul told “The MMA Hour.” “I’m not concerned. … Yeah, he’s going to maybe land a couple of punches, that’s the name of the game. That only wakes me up. I’m going to get hit and hit him harder, and keep on going and weather the storm and end his career.”
A veteran of 37 MMA fights, Diaz was one of the UFC’s top stars after leaving the organization in September of last year following a fourth-round submission win over former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.
Diaz’s resume is as impressive as any, boasting 21 wins, eight Fight of the Night, five Submission of the Night, two Performance of the Night and one Knockout of the Night honors. He also won the fifth season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” His 16 post-fight bonuses are third-most in UFC history and he is fourth all-time with 10 submission victories.
Paul himself has no mixed-martial arts experience.
“I respect his career; I don’t respect him as a person,” Paul said. “There’s a difference. He’s a bully, he’s a punk. … Someone has to bully the bully, and that’s what I’m going to do on Saturday.”
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