Nate Diaz has declared his interest in securing a boxing meeting with Jake Paul.
The Stockton native is currently embroiled in a feud with the UFC over the final bout on his contract, and has yet to be released from the promotion despite his frequent demands. Diaz and Paul have traded verbal barbs over a potential fight for several months, with Paul keen to seal the star a mega payday to share the ring.
Paul has recently reinstated his interest in a boxing fight and has demanded that the UFC release the 37-year-old. Diaz has now confirmed his plans to fight in the boxing ring and is willing to challenge any fighter from the squared circle.
"I'm interested in anything," Diaz responded when asked about a showdown with Paul during an interview on the MMA Hour. "I'm interested in activity and if I get out and he is the first guy to step up then I am fighting him.
"I want to fight some of the best boxers and some s*** like that, yeah I'll fight everybody and anybody that you can think of. Anyone who wants to fight I am going to fight, anyone who is talking some s*** like Jake Paul. For some reason people put him with my a** and it isn't for no reason because he is f****** doing his thing. He's saying he will whip everybody's a** but that's what I have had in the past and I'm here like 'you are not whipping my a**."
Diaz has been unable to find an opponent for his final UFC bow despite verbally agreeing to face the likes of Dustin Poirier and Khamzat Chimaev. A boxing fight with Paul would appeal to Diaz due to the lucrative reward on offer, and could also hand the veteran a chance of a fresh challenge.
Paul recently made an offer to UFC president Dana White to step into the octagon and fight Dia z in his final fight so that the star can finally be released from his deal, in exchange for another fighter pay review. However an agreement is unlikely to be made with Diaz continuing to campaign for his release.
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Mirror Fighting understands Diaz came close to fighting Paul in a bout later this summer after the YouTube star crossed paths with Tyron Woodley in December. However plans were shelved with Diaz in talks to face Vicente Luque to conclude his career in the UFC. Paul has claimed UFC fighters are searching for boxing opportunities because it is "s*******" on MMA this year.
"I think the Nate Diaz fight should happen, and if it doesn't happen with that offer, it'll probably happen one day in a boxing ring," Paul told ESPN. "It makes a ton of sense, the UFC has been dead this whole year. I get why fighters are trying to leave, boxing is s****ing on MMA this year so I get why Nate is trying to get out."
