Nate Diaz has been firing back at Jake Paul’s accusations of ducking him in a potential MMA rematch. The former UFC fighter stepped into the professional boxing ring against Paul in August 2023, where he lost via unanimous decision. Following the bout, Paul challenged Diaz to a rematch but under MMA rules this time.
Paul, known as ‘The Problem Child’, made it clear that he wanted the rematch to happen in the MMA realm, particularly in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he is signed. However, despite the back-and-forth banter, the rematch hasn’t materialized yet.
Paul didn’t hold back on his accusations, claiming that Diaz was avoiding the MMA fight because he feared tarnishing his MMA legacy with a potential loss to him. Paul even went as far as offering $10 million for the bout, alleging that Diaz turned it down due to apprehension.
Jake Paul on Nate Diaz
Jake Paul claims that Nate Diaz ducked his 10 million dollar MMA fight offer 👀 pic.twitter.com/G97YL4xLFH
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) September 6, 2023
Nate Diaz, on the other hand, didn’t take these accusations lightly. During a recent press conference with his upcoming boxing opponent Jorge Masvidal, the two athletes led chants against Jake Paul. Paul retaliated, stating that both Diaz and Masvidal declined offers of $10 million each for an MMA bout against him in the PFL.
When asked about Paul’s claims, Diaz brushed them off, implying that he’s accustomed to better offers and hinted at Dana White’s comments about PFL ticket sales.
He clarified that it wasn’t him who turned down the offer but rather Paul who didn’t accept his terms. Diaz also pointed out the apparent struggles of PFL in ticket sales, emphasizing that their potential fight wouldn’t happen under the PFL banner.
Diaz is currently gearing up for his boxing match against Masvidal, scheduled for June 1, 2024. Despite recent losses, Diaz remains a popular figure, with many anticipating his return to the UFC, possibly for a trilogy fight against Conor McGregor. But before that, he’s focused on settling the score with Masvidal in the boxing ring.