Jake Paul outpoints Nate Diaz, then calls for rematch in MMA

DALLAS — In Jake Paul’s conflict in opposition to MMA fighters, he stays undefeated.

The YouTuber-turned-prizefighter defeated Nate Diaz through unanimous choice (97-92, 98-91, 98-91) Saturday evening at a sold-out American Airways Middle. Paul damage Diaz within the first spherical, and it appeared he would cruise or end the combat early. However Diaz hung in and made it a troublesome combat all through.

“He is powerful, he is actual powerful,” Paul mentioned in his postfight interview. “That is what he is recognized for. However powerful on this sport does not work.

“I knocked him down, gained principally each spherical, however he is a warrior. I had him damage within the first spherical, he saved on coming. Nobody’s taken that a lot injury. All credit score to my staff and conditioning. Going 10 rounds in my eighth combat, it is remarkable. Solely been boxing for 3 years and beat a UFC legend.”

Paul challenged Diaz to an MMA combat afterward, and Diaz appeared receptive. Paul and PFL have a standing $10 million supply for Diaz to do it. Diaz mentioned it must be co-promoted by his Actual Struggle Inc.

“I will do both, MMA or boxing,” Diaz mentioned a couple of potential rematch with Paul. “MMA sounds good. He gained one, I must get one again, so I am down with that.”

Paul dropped Diaz within the fifth spherical, however Diaz was capable of recuperate. Diaz joked afterward about getting Paul right into a guillotine choke within the tenth and last spherical.

Paul, 26, got here in with boxing wins over former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley (two, together with one by knockout), plus one other knockout over former MMA champion Ben Askren. He has been a professional boxer since 2020. Diaz, 38, was making his skilled boxing debut. The bout was contested at 185 kilos, the heaviest weight Diaz has fought at in his lengthy profession.

Diaz spent 17 years within the UFC and was one of many promotion’s greatest stars. He choked out Conor McGregor, handing McGregor his first UFC loss, in 2016. Diaz left the UFC as a free agent following a win over Tony Ferguson final September. He began Actual Struggle Inc. and vowed to search for the most important and most attention-grabbing fights — on his phrases.

This card was a 50-50 partnership between Actual Struggle Inc. and Paul’s Most Helpful Promotions. RFI President Zach Rosenfield instructed ESPN final month that each Paul and Diaz would earn effectively into the eight figures for the combat, which is greater than Diaz made in any of his UFC fights. It was additionally arguably the most important combat up to now for Paul. MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian mentioned Diaz was the primary fellow “A” aspect — a confirmed pay-per-view draw — Paul has confronted in his profession.

Tempers flared throughout the week. Paul and his crew acquired underneath Diaz’s pores and skin on the information convention and a skirmish broke out between the 2 groups’ safety guards. The 2 acquired bodily on the weigh-in. Diaz painted it as philosophical and generational variations, himself the old-school martial artist in opposition to Paul and Gen Z influencer tradition.

Paul and Diaz appeared to make up after the combat, with Diaz giving Paul credit score.