Round-by-round analysis: Jake Paul beats Nate Diaz by unanimous decision

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

The YouTuber-turned-prizefighter defeated Nate Diaz through unanimous determination (97-92, 98-91, 98-91) Saturday night time at a sold-out American Airways Heart. Paul harm Diaz within the first spherical and it appeared like he would cruise or end the struggle early. However Diaz hung in and made it a dogfight all through.

“He is a warrior,” Paul stated in his postfight interview. “I had him within the first spherical. He stored on coming. Nobody has taken that a lot injury. All credit score to my group and my conditioning.”

Paul challenged Diaz to an MMA struggle afterward. Diaz appeared receptive to it. Paul and PFL have a standing $10 million provide for Diaz to do it. Diaz stated it must be co-promoted by Actual Struggle Inc.

“I will struggle anyone,” Diaz stated. “I do not give a f—.”

Paul dropped Diaz within the fifth spherical, however Diaz was in a position to get better. Diaz joked about getting Paul in a guillotine choke within the tenth and closing 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 his personal promotion, Actual Struggle Inc., and vowed to search for the largest and most fascinating fights — on his phrases.

This card was a 50-50 partnership between Actual Struggle Inc. and Paul’s Most Helpful Promotions (MVP). Actual Struggle Inc. president Zach Rosenfield informed ESPN final month that each Paul and Diaz would make properly into the eight figures for the struggle, which is greater than Diaz made in any of his UFC fights. It was additionally arguably the largest struggle to this point for Paul. MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian stated Diaz was the primary fellow “A” facet — a confirmed pay-per-view draw – that Paul has confronted in his profession.

Tempers flared through the week. Paul and his crew acquired underneath Diaz’s pores and skin on the press convention and skirmish broke out between the 2 groups’ safety guards. The 2 acquired bodily at weighins. 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 struggle, with Diaz giving Paul credit score.

Full recap arising…