Paul vs. Diaz: Jake Paul offers multi-million dollar MMA rematch after beating Nate Diaz
Jake Paul added another former UFC legend to his resume before offering to run it back in the cage.
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Jake Paul added another former UFC legend to his resume, scoring a unanimous decision win over Nate Diaz in a 10-round battle in Dallas.
Paul rattled Diaz in the very first round, and dropped him in the fifth on the way to a 97-92, 98-91, 98-91 win.
After a heated build-up, it was an entertaining fight, even if it failed to reach great levels of skill.
Paul was fresh-faced and unscathed after the fight, while both of Diaz’s eyes were badly swollen. Paul’s power and size advantage were evident early on, while only Diaz’s renowned durability kept him in the contest.
In his boxing debut, Diaz was unorthodox at best, and sloppy at his worst. Although he looked tired at times, he threw with more volume and finished well, arguably winning all of the last two or three rounds.
If there were another two rounds, Diaz may have earned a finish, but Paul did enough early on to move to 7-1-0.
The victory sees Paul add yet another win over one-time MMA greats, with Ben Askren, Anderson Silva and two wins over Tyron Woodley already in the bag.
After beating a series of ageing mixed martial artists, Paul offered Diaz a big-money rematch in the cage.
“I was watching this kid growing up, but I want to run it back in MMA,” he said.
“I want $10 million, PFL (Professional Fighters League), that’s the offer. Make it fair. I won one, let’s do it in your hometown.”
Diaz, who finished the fight with a cheeky guillotine, was only too keen for it.
“He won this one. Real fighting, I’ll fight anybody, I don’t give a f**k,” he said.
“I’ll do either, he won one, I’ve gotta get one back, I’m down for that.”
Live round by round updates -
Round 10: This is it, last round. Diaz needs a big round, while Paul just needs to stay out of trouble and he should win a decision.
Again, Diaz finished well, a volume of punches backing Paul away. He might have got this with another two rounds.
Round Nine: Diaz is showboating, and finally landing the better shots. He might have run out of time to win this on the cards though.
Round Eight: Diaz is on the front foot with three rounds left. He knows he’s behind big time on the scorecards.
A straight left from Diaz halted Paul in his tracks, seeing the YouTuber visibly wilt. That was Diaz’s best round of the fight by far. Does he have time to finish it?
Claressa Shields is not impressed.
Yes facts remains I’ll get @jakepaul too. The level that of skill being displayed is mediocre
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) August 6, 2023
Round Seven: Diaz’s right eye is badly swollen, but he keeps walking forward. He throws a lot of unorthodox shots as Paul’s power is fading.
Round Six: Paul plays it safe after a big win, boxing pretty well. They’re both exhausted.
Round Five: Again, it’s Diaz’s business and Paul’s power. Both men look tired.
DIAZ IS DROPPED!
Jake Paul knocks down Nate Diaz in round 5 pic.twitter.com/tFipOrnnzR
— â™›ð“’ð“ªð“¶ð“•ð“›â™› (@CamCWFL) August 6, 2023
He gets back to his feet, but is in a bad way and Paul goes in for the kill with more than a minute remaining.
Somehow Diaz survives, recovers and makes it to the bell, talking trash to someone in the crowd. Wow.
Round Four: It’s going to be a matter of Paul’s fitness and Diaz’s durability. Diaz doesn’t have great boxing skills, but is throwing at high volume. The fourth was his best round of the fight, and Jake Paul knows he’s in a fight.
Round Three: Still haven’t seen much from Diaz apart from the occasional single shot that lands. Paul’s size advantage is huge - it looks like there’s two weight classes difference between them.
Round Two: Diaz’s awkward style was on show, running into range behind a high guard as Paul again looked for the finish. A big right hand wobbled Diaz momentarily, but the Stockton native laughed it off.
It’ll be interesting to see how Paul manages his gas tank against ultra-durable Diaz.
Round One: Jake Paul caught Diaz with a huge left hand, rattling the MMA veteran. Paul followed up with a barrage, backing Diaz into the ropes as he went for the finish.
There was swelling and cuts over his eyes before the end of the round. Outstanding start for Paul. Crucially though, Diaz weathered the storm.
WHAT A ROUND FOR JAKE 😱
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 6, 2023
Watch #PaulDiaz LIVE on DAZN PPV NOW ON https://t.co/Yb1DVnmSYA 🥊@jakepaul | @natediaz209 | @mostvpromotions | @realfightinc | @celsiusofficial | #CELSIUSLiveFit | #CELSIUSBrandPartnerpic.twitter.com/SszfFhsNHX
2:23pm - Both fighters are in the ring, with Jake Paul walked to the ring by brother, Logan, as well as rapper Lil Durk.
Diaz was accompanied by his brother Nick and rap legend E 40.
Horrendous match-making in world title fight
Amanda Serrano just battered Heather Hardy, retaining all her featherweight world titles.
One of the greatest female fighters ever, Serrano sliced Hardy up in round one, continued with the punishment in the second and nearly finished it in the third.
After six minutes, it was clear the 41-year-old Hardy had no place in the same ring as Serrano.
Veteran boxing scribe Dan Rafael raged at the mismatch.
Hardy getting lit up like a xmas tree. Serrano pasting her with everything. Grotesque mismatch.
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) August 6, 2023
4-0 Serrano. Horrific mismatch. I am ill watching this fucking shit. This fight should never have been made in the first place and I said it then. #SerranoHardy2#boxing
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) August 6, 2023
Hardy’s corner kept allowing her to go out round after round and she was game, throwing plenty of wild shots.
But she barely defended herself as the southpaw Serrano virtually landed at will.
The trend continued in the fifth and sixth, with even the commentary team suggesting Hardy’s corner should save her and throw in the towel.
Before the ninth round, Hardy told her corner there was something wrong with her eye. They said, ‘Don’t worry about that’, and asked her if she was OK. She didn’t respond.
They then let her go out and fight, and she copped even more unnecessary punishment.
A head clash opened a huge cut on Hardy’s head. The ringside doctor checked it out, but let her continue.
UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens drops one-sided decision
Jeremy Stephens was in some tremendous fights during a 14-year UFC career.
But this was a tough watch.
‘Lil Heathen’ was fairly well beaten up by Nate Diaz’s teammate, and two-fight UFC veteran - Chris Avila. Stephens’ time in the UFC ended in 2021, and he’s since had a stint in the PFL and made his boxing debut with a draw against Jose Aldo earlier this year.
The 37-year-old couldn’t get anything off as Avila dominated their six round supper middleweight fight. Avila - who lost both of his UFC bouts - even started showboating with two rounds still to fight.
Jake Paul arrives...on a tank
Jake Paul never does anything by halves, and his entrance to the arena just now was no different.
Known as ‘The Problem Child’ Paul rocked up to the American Airlines Center riding on a damn tank.
A TANK!!!
😱 @jakepaul HAS ARRIVED.. IN A TANK! 🫡
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 6, 2023
Watch #PaulDiaz LIVE on DAZN PPV 🔥 @jakepaul | @natediaz209 | @mostvpromotions | @realfightinc | @celsiusofficial | #CELSIUSLiveFit | #CELSIUSBrandPartnerpic.twitter.com/WqnKKDfqvG
Paul posted a video of his spectacular entrance to social media with the caption: “Ready for war.”
Nate Diaz arrived shortly afterwards in a car.
Logan Paul’s private jet from Summer Slam
It’s a big day for both Paul brothers.
Hours before Jake steps into the ring with Nate Diaz, Logan beat ‘Ricochet’ at Summer Slam in Detroit.
The elder Paul brother later posted a video to Instagram showing him getting a police escort to the airport, before boarding a private jet - still in his wrestling kit - to Dallas to attend the fights.
👀 After winning at SummerSlam, @LoganPaul is on his way from Detroit to Dallas to support his brother 🔥
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 6, 2023
Watch #PaulDiaz LIVE NOW on https://t.co/FoiaUucafv@jakepaul | @natediaz209 | @mostvpromotions | @realfightinc | @celsiusofficial | #CELSIUSLiveFit | #CELSIUSBrandPartnerpic.twitter.com/vLwPPOg2IK
“Who da f**k is that guy??”
Nate Diaz isn’t the only former UFC fighter on the card. He’s not even the only person on the card with a memorable run-in with Conor McGregor.
Jeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens - who fights Chris Avila - had a decent UFC career across 14 years, but will always be remembered best as being the man on the receiving end of McGregor’s, “who da f**k is that guy” taunt.”
The famous moment, which happened at a press conference in September 2016, came at the height of McGregor’s rise to superstardom, and actually did wonders for Stephens’ career.
Stephens got one back on McGregor a year later by posting a photo with the Irishman’s mum.
#YourMomKnowsWhoDaFook
— Jeremy Stephens (@LiLHeathenMMA) September 21, 2017
😜🖕 pic.twitter.com/MoLvNr7XV9
Stephens was always entertaining, but struggled to dominate the lightweight and featherweight rankings in the UFC. He left the company in 2021 after winning 10 fight night bonus checks in 33 fights.
He had a stint in the PFL before turning to boxing earlier this year where he fought a six round draw with former longtime featherweight UFC champion Jose Aldo.
Avila also had two fights in the UFC, losing them both.
Here’s everything you need to know about Paul vs Diaz
Paul vs. Diaz undercard and results
Jake Paul def Nate Diaz via UD
Amanda Serrano def Heather Hardy via UD
Ashton Sylve def William Silva via Rd4 KO
Chris Avila def Jeremy Stephens via UD
Shadashia Green def Olivia Curry via UD
Alan Sanchez def Angel Beltran via UD
Jose Aguayo def Noel Cavazos via MD
Luciano Ramos def Cee Jay Hamilton via UD
Are the Paul brothers good for boxing?
A former Disney channel child star walks into a ring with one of the baddest MMA fighters on the planet.
That’s not the start of a terrible joke. Far from it.
It’s the scene that will play out this weekend when megastar Jake Paul – described variously as a prankster, influencer, rapper and YouTuber turned boxer – fights UFC icon Nate Diaz.
Like Paul’s whole persona, it’s a polarising kind of fight.
Purists hate it. Casual fans can’t wait to watch.
And it’s almost guaranteed to do more pay-per-view buys than the biggest fight of the year between Terence Crawford and Errol Spence last weekend.
But is it good for the sport?
Diehards will say it’s a bad look for boxing.
They conveniently forget that boxing constantly makes itself look bad through dodgy decisions, shoddy refereeing, woeful matchmaking and the inability to deliver the big fights that fans want to see.
These days the biggest fights involving the best boxers are watched only by a hardcore crop of boxing aficionados. Naoya Inoue’s win over Stephen Fulton last week is the perfect example. Until Crawford’s masterclass on the weekend, Inoue was the consensus pound-for-pound number one fighter on the planet.
But you’d be hard pressed to find a casual sports fan in Australia who has ever heard of the Japanese knockout artist. Fewer still tuned in to watch his destruction of Fulton, despite it being on at the viewer friendly time of Tuesday evening.
Jake Paul brings non-boxing, and even non-sports fans, to the table.
It’s a tactic honed from his days as a YouTuber and “influencer”.
And, once they’re watching, Paul puts on a show. He’s a natural entertainer.
Four of his six wins have ended inside the distance, including a stunning first round knock out of decorated wrestler and former UFC veteran Ben Askren, and a sixth round KO of former longtime UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.
He also dropped middleweight UFC GOAT Anderson Silva on the way to a lopsided unanimous decision win last year.
As much as boxing insiders love watching pure displays of skill, the majority of people just want to see knockouts, and as often as not, Paul delivers.
Although crossover, or ‘novelty’ boxing matches are becoming more common, the Paul-Diaz showdown is far from the first of its kind.
Floyd Mayweather moved into the space with a win over boxing debutant Conor McGregor in 2017, and an exhibition against Logan Paul – Jake’s brother – in 2021.
Two decades after they could have faced one another in their primes, Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr went eight rounds in an exhibition in 2020.
UFC pioneer Vitor Belfort has beaten one-time boxing kingpin Evander Holyfield, and in 1976, Muhammad Ali even fought Japanese pro-wrestling star Antonio Inoki in a bout with specifically created rules.
The trend is threatening to infiltrate MMA too, with rumours of a cage fight between tech moguls Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.
The difference, this weekend at least, is that the Paul brothers have legitimately dedicated themselves to the sport.
Paul isn’t just in it for the money – although there’s untold millions to be made from PPV revenue, ticket sales, merchandise and sponsorships.
Not to mention the way the business savvy Paul brothers leverage their already gargantuan social media followings to make even more cash. And no one fights for free.
But the Pauls are in their 20s, train hard and have future plans in boxing and MMA. Jake wants to fight in the PFL – one of the UFC’s biggest rivals – and Logan is a former college wrestler who rolled recently with Israel Adesanya and Alex Volkanovski.
They’re in it for the long haul.
Whereas Tyson, Jones Jr and Holyfield all openly said they only laced on the gloves again for a payday, banking on their decorated past careers and stardom.
There’s longevity in ‘novelty’ boxing matches, if they’re done right. But the shelf life of people tuning in to watch their ageing heroes of the ‘90s – when boxing was legitimately a mainstream sport – is surely coming to an end.
Jake Paul isn’t just in it for himself, either.
‘The Problem Child’ has been vocal in arguing for better pay for fighters, hitting out hard at UFC president Dana White.
The Paul brothers have helped raise the profile of many boxers who appear on their undercards too.
Undisputed women’s featherweight world champion Amanda Serrano – who will defend her titles against Heather Hardy on this weekend’s Paul-Diaz card – has benefited significantly.
Aussie Liam Paro fought on a Jake Paul card in 2021, and Devin Haney appeared on the Logan Paul vs. KSI card in 2019, three years before he became undisputed lightweight world champion with two wins over George Kambosos.
Closer to home, and to a lesser extent, No Limit Boxing used a similar tactic to build the profiles of legitimate world title prospects Tim Tszyu and Liam Wilson by having them fight on undercards.
‘Real’ boxing and novelty boxing can coexist. The rise of novelty fights isn’t taking anything away from legitimate boxing. Crawford, Spence, Canelo and Co. are doing just fine.
There are downsides though.
“Influencer boxing” is on the rise, most recently making headlines in Ireland after an OnlyFans model flashed her breasts after a win.
These events see “talent” with large online followings shift momentarily into part-time boxing. The sole endgame is to cash checks and earn a few more followers. It’s a grift at best, and dangerous at worst.
For better or worse, it seems like sticking around for a while. At least as long as Instagram, Tik Tok and OnlyFans exist.
For the detractors of influencer boxing, the answer is the same as for those who can’t stomach Jake Paul: don’t watch.
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