LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 4: Nate Diaz attends the UFC 285 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 4, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Butari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Nate Diaz, who has gone 21-13 in his MMA profession, makes his skilled boxing debut on Saturday towards Jack Paul. (Picture by Jeff Butari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Pictures)
Nate Diaz has spent his complete life in search of fights.
When he was rising up exterior of Stockton, California. within the Octagon throughout his 15-year MMA profession. With UFC administration as he tried to get the matches he needed and finally, when he needed out of the promotion to observe his wishes and management the cash.
“I at all times wish to combat individuals that everybody thinks are going to bang my ass,” mentioned Diaz. “So I’ve to indicate them that this isn’t true.”
That is his life, he fights even when he is not combating. Selecting to not combat when nobody is value combating for. He has fought 34 instances within the UFC, shedding 13 of them however one way or the other changing into an increasing number of widespread, an increasing number of revered, and an increasing number of likable alongside the best way. Followers knew one factor, squabbling, no holding again, no lack of labor.
No one actually cares in the event that they win or lose. He is recognized for bleeding throughout fights and solely one way or the other getting stronger as others panic—”I am identical to, ‘Do not freak out,'” he mentioned. “It makes everybody suppose you are loopy, nevertheless it’s simply blood. It is probably not that huge of a deal.”
And when the 38-year-old lastly managed to slide out of the UFC’s management, it one way or the other led him to Saturday Night time in Dallas, a pay-per-view combat with a maybe unlikely opponent – Jake Paul, former Disney Channel star and web influencer turned boxing draw.
Diaz has at all times prided himself on combating “actual fights”, as he describes it. So how is that this combat – a boxing match towards Jake Paul – a bit just like the MMA wars with Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, and many others.?
“Nicely, in all places I’m going individuals speak about Jake Paul banging individuals’s asses,” Diaz mentioned. “He beat (two) former UFC champions. He is in a heavier weight class. He is a giant man that everybody thinks he will beat me.
“So that is who you wish to combat.”
If anybody has seen this farce, they need to take heed to Diaz and know that it’s something however that.
Paul proves to be a devoted boxer, and an excellent one at that. He has defeated three former UFC superstars, however there are asterisks hooked up. Tyrone Woodley and Ben Askren are largely wrestlers, not strikers. In the meantime, Anderson Silva was 47 years previous. Had he been within the octagon, Diaz mentioned issues could be totally different.
“If he had fought Tyrone Woodley in an actual combat, Tyrone Woodley would have dipped him on the top and elbowed him,” Diaz mentioned. If he had fought Anderson Silva for actual, he would have been kicked within the ass, checked within the chin with a foot and out in a minute.
“And if he had fought Ben Askren…” …he most likely would have performed the identical with Ben Askren’s unlucky donkey, Diaz mentioned earlier than pausing and breaking right into a deep chortle. Ben Askren had gone to sleep it doesn’t matter what. This man is dangerous.”
Diaz stored laughing.
“However all of them cornered him and kicked them out, so you’ll be able to’t outrun something within the boxing ring,” Diaz continued. “He is robust and he is good and he has so much going for him.”
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - FEBRUARY 26: Jake Paul looks at the ring as they enter the ring as they walk down the ring prior to the Cruiserweight Title match between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury at Diriyah Arena on February 26, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Niel/Getty Images)
In his first combat towards an expert boxer, Jack Paul misplaced a break up determination to Tommy Fury on February 26, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Picture by Francois Niel/Getty Pictures)
That would be the problem for Diaz, who’s greatest recognized in MMA for all kinds of expertise, together with spectacular cardio. Strike was a expertise, although, way over Woodley and Askren. And at 38 years previous, there’s nonetheless loads of pop to his punch that the growing older Silva lacks.
Diaz has been boxing for years and that’s the reason Saturday is Paul’s greatest problem but.
However the strain right here is on Diaz. There’s a sizable phase of combat followers who, regardless of their grudging respect for the boxer and stuntman Paul has confirmed to be, wish to see him battered and battered, uncovered as somebody who cannot stand as much as an actual fighter.
They need – they want – Nate Diaz to ship that. No, he’s not an expert boxer. He is about as shut as Paul would step right into a one-on-one ring, although.
For Diaz, his post-UFC profession is simply starting, and a win would open doorways. Dropping could make issues tough. He talks about returning to the UFC on his phrases to finish his trifecta with McGregor. Or perhaps there’s a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. Or perhaps one thing else.
“I can do all of it,” he mentioned, “and do all of it my approach.”
Diaz retains his targets easy. It is in regards to the problem. It is about efficiency. It is in regards to the coronary heart he exhibits regardless of the circumstances. It is in regards to the followers.
“I identical to the followers do, once they consider the very best fights they’ve ever seen, or probably the greatest fighters they’ve ever seen, I would like them to suppose like I did once I watched Royce Gracie combat or somebody like Roy Jones or BJ Penn,” Diaz mentioned. “Somebody you watch combat after which wish to go in a full ninja-inspired exercise.
“That is what I would really like it to appear like,” he continued. “I do not know what it seems like. However that is what I would like it to appear like. I am not in search of a enjoyable match or a enjoyable sport. I wish to be sure that they keep in mind my fights till the tip of time.”
Diaz by no means backed down. Not within the octagon. Not towards the UFC. Now that is the circus, within the new sport of impactful boxing, towards Jack Paul, and he is as severe as ever.
