Former UFC superstar Nate Diaz is finally back and will lock horns with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Paul’s ‘Most Valuable Promotions’ and Diaz’s ‘Real Fight Inc.’ made the announcement on Wednesday. The August 5th bout will take place inside the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Jake had called out Diaz on numerous occasions, however, the fight never materialized. Fortunately for the fans, they will finally get to see Diaz throw down against Paul in an 8-round fight. The boxing match will be contested at 185 pounds with 10-ounce gloves. DAZN has taken the responsibility of airing the bout globally.
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Nate Diaz honored his UFC contract by gracing the Octagon one final time in September 2022. In the main event of UFC 279, the 37-year-old submitted Tony Ferguson in round four. In his illustrious time at the UFC, Diaz has fought the likes of Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, and current welterweight champion, Leon Edwards.
This contest also marks Jake’s return to the boxing ring after his first professional loss at the hands of Tommy Fury in February. After the said match, it seemed to the fans that an immediate rematch was on its way. But now ‘The Problem Child‘ will look to ruin Nate’s boxing debut.
Nate Diaz’s YouTube channel wasted no time uploading an official trailer for their summer clash. This match will be the first time Nate has promoted himself using ‘Real Fight Inc.’ and also the first time he’ll be involved in a contest outside the UFC in 15 years.
Nate Diaz vs Jake Paul: Tale of the Tape
While the boxing match between Nate Diaz and Jake Paul just got announced, the latter has seemingly started the build-up to the August 5th event. The 26-year-old took to Twitter and shared a picture of what appears to be a grave with Nate Diaz’s name engraved on it.
Jake Paul took his boxing lessons seriously and made his highly anticipated debut only in 2020. Since then, ‘The Problem Child’ has amassed a record of 6-1. The Ohio native has knockout wins over the likes of Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren. Due to his brash personality, Paul has always managed to keep his name in the conversations.
Nate Diaz is looking at Jake Paul as a speed bump on his way back to the UFC 👀 pic.twitter.com/04vWoDUUV8
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) April 12, 2023
In terms of their statures, Nate stands tall at 6 feet while Jake has a one-inch advantage at 6’1″. In terms of weight, Diaz has primarily fought in the 155-pound and more recently in the 170-pound division in the UFC. Jake has fought as heavy as 191.5 lbs in his professional career. Paul most recently weighed in at 183.6 pounds for Tommy Fury.
The two will compete at a catchweight bout of 185 pounds. Diaz is a traditional southpaw with a reach of 76 inches. Paul on the other hand is an Orthodox fighter, carrying the same reach as Nate.
Nate Diaz seemingly has a superior boxing ability. However, Jake can always have a puncher’s chance to win this contest, much like he did when he finished Tyron Woodley in their rematch. Who do you think walks out with the W? Let us know in the comments down below.