After losing his first fight against someone who has actually trained in boxing for nearly as long as he has if not longer, Jake Paul is back to fighting an opponent who’s primarily fought in the octagon.
Jake Paul’s next opponent, Nate Diaz, needs no introduction to most combat sports fans. Diaz is currently a free agent but the 38-year-old spent close to a decade in the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he amassed the third-most bonus awards in the company’s history at 16.
The UFC star will serve as the next opponent for the YouTube sensation turned professional boxer, Jake Paul, and the initial press conference set the ton for what’s promising to be a thrilling and controversial encounter.
In their first face-to-face meeting, Diaz took center stage with an air of nonchalance, befitting someone who’s fought against countless other warriors in the past. Diaz appeared unfazed by the numerous attempts by Paul to dominate the interaction. Instead, he quizzically asked, “Where are the normal people in boxing?”, drawing laughter from the crowd. The quip served as the highlight of the conference.
Paul, who’s also known as “The Problem Child”, is heavily favored to win the bout according to various bookmakers, which is surprising, to say the least.
Diaz is a seasoned professional in the UFC and, unlike Paul’s previous opponents such as Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, and Ben Askren, barely removed from his prime.
Diaz most recently put Tony Ferguson in a guillotine choke at UFC 279 last September, earning him a Submission win and the Performance of the Night award. But, while Diaz has a significant edge in terms of fighting experience and tenure, Paul’s made a bit of a name for himself as a skillful boxer. Besides, mixed martial arts and boxing are two drastically different disciplines, so Diaz will have to unlearn certain things ahead of their fight, which could put him at a disadvantage.
The interesting dynamic between the two fighters sets up what could be a massive crowd come August, with Paul’s conventional boxing journey clashing with Diaz’s veteran status in the UFC.
But, fans looking for some juice don’t have to wait for months for drama. The press conference itself was a sight to behold, as Paul tried his best to egg Diaz on, who remained calm all throughout until a hand fight broke out as the two faced off.
The highly anticipated bout is scheduled for August 5 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Speaking of Jake Paul, his older brother, Logan Paul, has not appeared in the WWE since WrestleMania 39. The elder Paul previously declared his intention to contend for the World Heavyweight Championship belt but it appears that the WWE and Paul have other plans at the moment.
