Daniel Cormier expects Jake Paul to pose problems for Nate Diaz.
YouTube star-turned-boxer Paul (6-1) meets ex-UFC star Diaz (0-0) in an eight-round boxing match Aug. 5 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The fight will be at 185 pounds and will be promoted under the DAZN banner with a live pay-per-view broadcast.
Diaz will be making his professional boxing debut after he fought out his contract with the UFC. He most recently seen in action this past September when he submitted Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. Paul is coming off a split decision loss to Tommy Fury in February.
“I don’t know how much I like it,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I don’t know how much I like the fight, based on two things: Jake’s big for him. Jake’s going to be big for Diaz. And Jake also is improving as a boxer. But Jake can also hit Nate, and that’s the worry. Nate is a guy that does get hit because Nate’s tough.
“Nate got hit by (Jorge) Masvidal. Nate got hit by Tony Ferguson. And we know who Tony Ferguson is today, (as) opposed to who Tony Ferguson was before. Nate can be hit. And this guy’s going to be bigger than Nate. This guy’s going to be fighting in a rule set that benefits him. This guy is going to be difficult. It’s going to be a very tough fight for Diaz just because he has to be so aware.”
Cormier can see Diaz outworking Paul, but worries about the wear and tear he’s sustained throughout his MMA career.
“Nate doesn’t get tired,” Cormier said. “So if Nate’s going to have an opportunity to win this fight, Nate has got to set a high pace early and he’s got to keep that pace going the entirety of the fight, and he has got to stay away from the right hand. Am I comfortable making a prediction on this fight? I don’t know. But if I’m having to guess, seeing them both recently, I feel like the bigger, younger guy is generally who you would go with. And the bigger, younger, fresher guy is Paul.
“Paul has not been through the wars with Conor McGregor. Paul has not been through the wars of being in UFC championship fights with the best fighters in the world. He’s fresh. His toughest fight was against Tommy Fury. And he’s bigger. That is what I think may ultimately be one of the biggest issues that my boy Nate has to deal with when it comes to that fight. But if anyone can upset the apple cart, it’s Nate Diaz.”
