In what promises to be one of the most eagerly-awaited boxing matches of the year, former UFC star Nate Diaz will square off against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Dallas, Texas, in August. And according to Diaz’s longtime nemesis Connor McGregor, it is Diaz who will come out on top. In an interview with Inside Fighting, McGregor predicted that Diaz “slaps [Paul’s] head off” during their bout.
This is not the first time Diaz and McGregor have been pitted against each other. The two have faced each other twice before in UFC, with each winning one bout. However, McGregor seems to have put his personal feelings aside and given the edge to Diaz in this fight.
But while McGregor may not be physically present at the bout, millions of fans worldwide will be tuning in to see how it all plays out. Diaz, known for his decorated career in MMA, will be hoping to prove himself as a force to be reckoned with in the boxing ring. Meanwhile, Paul, coming off of his first-ever loss in seven bouts, will be looking to silence the doubters and prove that he has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
In a recent statement, Diaz made it clear that he is taking the challenge seriously and is not underestimating Paul. “Besides Canelo he’s the biggest thing in boxing. I’m here to conquer that,” he said. “I f***ed up Conor for acting out and now here I am again, like a super hero of the real fight game, the king of the real fight game.”
For his part, Paul has said that he is more focused than ever after his recent defeat and is confident in his abilities. “Nate Diaz is considered one of the most bad-ass fighters of all time, but he and his team have been running their mouths for too long,” he said. “A Problem Child is going to piece up and knock out the Stockton G.”
It remains to be seen who will come out on top in this matchup, but one thing is for certain: the eyes of the boxing world will be glued to the bout when it takes place on August 5.
