Logan Paul offers fiery take on potential Nate Diaz fight

Although his WrestleMania 39 match with Seth Rollins this weekend has Logan Paul’s immediate attention, the YouTuber-turned-combat sports star admitted he’s trying to finalize a boxing match with one of MMA’s biggest names.

In an interview with BT Sports’ Ariel Helwani, Paul disclosed that he had a fight nearly finalized with Nate Diaz but the former UFC title contender withdrew from the bout at the last minute.

“I thought I had something locked in and apparently he called and said the fight was off,” Paul said. “Why, so he could fight someone else? For what purpose, to get fewer buys and maybe an easier fight? I don’t get it. …I think he’s ducking because we have the sweetest deal for him and he knows the type of numbers I’ll bring in. I’m not a quarter-million pay-per-view type of fighter. You’re going to get 750,000 to a million buys.”

Diaz, 37, has headlined two UFC pay-per-views — both against Conor McGregor, and both drawing over 1.31 million buys. 

Paul, who has just one professional fight, did 1.78 million buys for his bout against rapper KSI in November of 2019. His exhibition match with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2021 also drew one million buys as well.

Diaz has a 21-13 record as a mixed martial artist, including five wins by knockout or TKO. He trains boxing with Richard Perez, and both and his brother Nate were regarded as two of the best boxers in the UFC.

The 27-year-old Paul stated the door isn’t completely closed on the bout because his camp offered Diaz more money to entice him to take the fight. Despite a few social media exchanges in the past, Paul says there’s no bad blood between himself and Diaz and he wants the fight because it’s what fans want.

“I think he’s great,” Paul said of Diaz. “I think people would really want to see that fight. He’s tough as hell, obviously, an MMA legend can move the needle.”