Dana White: Nate Diaz 'probably should' fight Jake Paul

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

UFC president Dana White: Nate Diaz 'probably should go on and fight Jake Paul'

By Adam Stites | Last updated 6/21/22

Longtime UFC veteran Nate Diaz wants to be released by the organization and hinted Monday night that he'd like a boxing match against Jake Paul. UFC president Dana White said Tuesday that he doesn't hate the idea.

Diaz, 37, last fought June 2021 when he lost by unanimous decision to Leon Edwards. His last fight prior to that was in November 2019 against Jorge Masvidal. On Monday night, he asked the UFC to give him a fight this summer or grant him his release.

"UFC, release now please or give me fight with anyone in July or August," Diaz tweeted. His tweet also included a video of Paul.

"I like Nate, [but] let's be honest, Nate has won one fight in five or six years," White told TheMacLife in an interview Tuesday. "When these guys get into these positions, you have guys who have been with us for a long time, that we respect and care about ... you want to be fair and do the right thing, whatever.

"Nate Diaz is not going to come in and fight Kamaru Usman. We're trying to do the best we can, trying not to s--- on anybody or disrespect anybody. ... He probably should go and fight Jake Paul. That's a fight that makes sense."

The tweet Monday was not the first time Diaz has asked for his release. He made the same request in March and has made multiple complaints about his inability to book a fight.

Paul, 25, is 5-0 as a pro boxer with two wins against former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and one against former UFC fighter Ben Askren. His first two wins came against YouTuber AnEsonGib and former NBA player Nate Robinson. After his most recent win, Paul called for a fight against Diaz or Masvidal in his post-fight interview.

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