Nate Diaz could be off to the boxing world in life post-UFC.
The 37-year-old MMA star finished out his contract with the promotion two weeks ago at UFC 279 in Las Vegas, defeating Tony Ferguson via fourth-round guillotine submission. Diaz didn’t express his exact plans in the aftermath of his victory, but made it clear he was going to show people how things were done in the combat sports world.
Since arriving on the professional boxing scene in early 2020, YouTube star Jake Paul quickly established himself as an opportunity for several names in MMA to try and cash in on. Thus far, Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley have failed and now Anderson Silva will seek to topple the 5-0 “Problem Child” on Oct. 29.
No matter the result of that bout, a pairing between Diaz and Paul at some point has only seemed to be a more likely possibility as 2022 progressed.
“[Jake Paul] is for sure one of the options,” Diaz told iD Boxing when speaking on his future. “He’s doing big stuff. He’s doing big things. He’s got a big fight ahead of him. If he wins that, I’m sure people will be really impressed by it. And if Anderson [Silva] does his thing on him, that’s impressive also. We now have a fight. It’s something I look forward to. [Paul vs. Silva is] 50-50. I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”
At the upcoming event in Glendale, Ariz., Diaz plans on being in attendance for his teammate Chris Avila who is set to compete that night, according to Diaz. Avila also boxed the last time Paul did in Dec. 2021, defeating Anthony Taylor via majority decision.
Throughout the year, Diaz had been trying to get out of his UFC contract by any means necessary, whether that meant fighting or asking to be flat-out released. He won his fight and the promotion gave him the opportunity to return to his roots.
“From 17 or 18 years old, I was starting to fight, I was boxing with my boxing coach,” Diaz said. “There was a lot of boxers in my gym and I wanted to go boxing, but MMA showed up more frequently so I switched to MMA. This was my first time in a cage with contracts and all that. Now everything is open for the taking. Since I began fighting, I have never stopped training to box. We’ll take it .”
when the right opponent comes along.
TOP STORIES
Mischief. Paulo Costa takes credit for Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 279 weight miss: ‘I stole everything’
Unfair. Cory Sandhagen says Henry Cejudo shouldn’t get bantamweight title shot: ‘Why would the UFC do that?’
Journey. ‘I’m just thankful, man’: Joe Pyfer shares suicidal thoughts, abusive past he overcame before UFC debut win
VIDEO STEW
The MMA Hour.
Free fights.
Best Fight Pass moments in August.
Sterling recaps UFC Vegas 60.
Triple A and Chael scoop the scoops.
Khamzat’s last fight camp preparation.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Close enough.
Also i got to meet Ricky Martin and teach him about west side pic.twitter.com/m5xrv1OVug
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) September 19, 2022
Art.
UFC 281 is gonna be CRAZIER than the Super Bowl & Wrestlemania combined! @stylebender vs @AlexPereiraUFC, @CarlaEsparza1 vs @MmaWeili, AND the People’s Main Event @DustinPoirier vs @MikeChandlerMMA. Best card ever imo. Is this your favorite card ever? #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/qviyBIai37
— Needing Art? (@needingart) September 19, 2022
Motivation.
. . .#MOMCHAMP #DOUBLECHAMP pic.twitter.com/13xiWXDi1C
— Angela Lee (@angelaleemma) September 19, 2022
Nice try, Ariel.
He tried to fool me Mtfk https://t.co/P80sUo388k
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) September 19, 2022
New talent.
Years cutting my dogs hairs , it’s virtually identical @arielhelwani pic.twitter.com/cKeg7FmzuU
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) September 20, 2022
Jiri in general is a mythical fighter if we’re being totally honest.
High-Fade Jiri is a new mythical fighter pic.twitter.com/YtkUUMFPS2
— Heavyweight Thanos (@MMAThanos) September 19, 2022
A solid promise.
— Diana Belbita (@DianaBelbita) September 20, 2022
Swag.
huroridaniSWAG GYM TshiyatsuCan Shang !Fu Gu san!chiyandoraXi ndemashita @kamaya11 @GymKyoto pic.twitter.com/v3aaCnIE7K
— Zuo Teng Tian Takashi Sato (@satotenten) September 20, 2022
Classics.
Swinging.
It continues.
History pic.twitter.com/tg8qtCiF0t
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) September 20, 2022
Football season.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jairzinho Rozenstruik (12-4) vs. Chris Daukaus (12-5); UFC 282, Dec. 10
FINAL THOUGHTS
Diaz has done a pretty good job of not saying he’s going to box next while pretty much saying he’s going to box next.
Thanks for reading!
POLL POSITION
Last Week’s Results:
Friday: 83% of 547 total votes answered “Cory Sandhagen” when asked, “Who wins tomorrow?” Sandhagen defeated Song Yadong via fourth-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage) in UFC Vegas 60’s main event.
Thursday: 72% of 574 total votes answered “Yes” when asked, “Can Khamzat Chimaev make 170 pounds?” Chimaev missed the 171-pound limit by 7. 5 pounds for his UFC 279 weigh in.
Wednesday: 81% of 1260 total votes answered “Yes” when asked, “Should Tony Ferguson retire?”
Tuesday: The poll was an even 50/50 for “Yes” and “No” through 654 total votes when asked, “Should Khamzat Chimaev be favored against every ranked UFC welterweight?”
Monday: 60% of 826 total votes answered “Yes” when asked, “Does Nate Diaz ever fight in the UFC again?”
Today’s exit poll :
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.
