CLEVELAND, OHIO: Ahead of their boxing match in Dallas in August, Nate Diaz shut down Jake Paul's intimidation tactics with just four words. Before facing YouTube star Paul, a professional boxer with a record of 6-1, in his boxing debut, the UFC great had been turned into a massive underdog by bookmakers.
After a rigorous training camp for his first bout since leaving MMA's top company in 2022, Diaz is immensely confident. Paul and Diaz exchanged words recently on the 'Pat McAfee Show' before their fight on August 5 at the American Airlines Center.
'That's what they say'
Paul insisted he would be a completely different fighter from the one who had most recently been defeated by Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia. It should be noted that neither Paul nor Diaz was eager to engage in a lot of trash talking.
Paul stated, “I'm glad that he's watched all my fights. Study the film man, it's going to be a completely different fighter and you're preparing for someone completely different. So, you're making a big mistake by trying to look at any of my footage and compare me to anything that I'm gonna be doing in that ring.”
Diaz replied, “That's what they say.” Once they were on air together, the two were mostly cordial, but Paul was displeased that Diaz arrived late and insisted on knocking him out in retaliation. He called his adversary, a 38-year-old man, a "kid" and a "punk" before finally being joined on air after a short time.
‘I'm going make him pay’
Paul stated during the interview, “The dude's been really unprofessional, and I'm going make him pay. This is valuable time. This is one of the biggest sports shows in the world and he just stands us both up bro. This kids a punk. He's a bully. He thinks he can do whatever he wants and August 5 I'm gonna make him pay for all the s*** he's done.”
The bout between Paul and Diaz will be the social media star's third attempt to overcome a former UFC champion, having already beaten Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva. He has defeated each of his six opponents in professional matches, including Tyson Fury.
