Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz is a hard sell for Dana White.
Diaz amicably parted ways with the UFC after he fought out his contract and already has been booked for his first post-octagon fight. Diaz (0-0) meets Paul (6-1) in an eight-round boxing match Aug. 5 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The fight will take place at 185 pounds and be promoted by DAZN with a live pay-per-view broadcast.
White said he respects Diaz, but criticized Paul for going back to facing older MMA fighters after he suffered his first-career loss to Tommy Fury in February.
“I don’t know, man,” White said on The Jim Rome Show. “I’ve been trying not to (criticize it). I like Nate. Nate and I have a good relationship. It’s just, listen: Jake Paul went out and fought a real boxer who was his age, his weight, and he lost. So as soon as he loses, he goes back to a 40-year-old MMA fighter who’s smaller than him (and) not his weight. Listen, it’s just one of those fights that – I know that some people are into this. It’s just not what I’m into. It’s not my thing.”
Prior to his loss to Fury, Paul’s resume included wins over ex-ONE Championship and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren, former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley twice, and former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s hub for Paul vs. Diaz.
