HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – MMA Kings head coach Rafael Cordeiro knows a thing or two about adjustments in the fight game, and has some advice for Nate Diaz and Jake Paul.
Diaz is set to face Paul in an eight-round boxing match on Aug. 5, in what will be a change of combat sports scenery for the UFC veteran. After 34 professional MMA bouts, 27 of which were in the UFC, Diaz is lacing up the boxing gloves to take on the Youtuber-turned-boxer Paul at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
While MMA fighters typically train boxing as a part of their usual fight camp, Cordeiro knows if they want to succeed in this current wave of MMA veterans trying their hands in the boxing ring, they must adjust their focus.
“It’s totally different training,” Cordeiro told MMA Junkie Radio. “You’re going to see a lot of MMA fighters fight boxing, but we have to dedicate ourselves to the boxing. It’s a totally different sport, it’s a totally different way that you spend your energy. You can’t fight boxing the way you can MMA. You’re gonna get tired in less than two minutes. It’s going to be impossible to do that.”
Endurance is a key part of the boxing training regiment. Cordeiro knows boxers train cardio multiple times per day, especially seasoned pros who compete in 12-round bouts. Diaz is used to competing in three or five five-minute rounds in the UFC, whereas Paul is used to preparing for eight three-minute rounds in his boxing career.
That’s not to mention the dedication to just focusing on hand striking, whereas MMA fighters have multiple martial arts disciplines they must pay attention to before stepping into the cage.
“It’s gonna be a tough fight for Diaz, as all those fights are,” Cordeiro said. “All those fights are tough. Same way it’s gonna be tough for Jake. But I believe now Jake has a little bit more time inside the boxing. He’s developed more skills because he just works on boxing world, which means he breathes boxing. Diaz, I don’t believe it’s gonna be a good fight for him after all those years competing MMA. Take a guy, they compete each month in boxing.
“So, I think it’s going to be a great fight. Like I said before, all of those fights are 50-50, but if you want to go from MMA world to boxing, you have to dedicate yourself again.”
