There’s been a lot of talk about what Nate Diaz will do after getting out from his draconic UFC contract. Diaz was reportedly under contract until recently – after signing all the way back in 2016. And UFC still has an exclusive negotiation period and matching rights for a year.
Many speculate that Nate Diaz is Jake Paul’s next opponent in boxing. While Diaz is undersized against Paul, he’s open to the possibility. And Paul even went so far as to claim he could make 170lbs during his recent guest spot on the MMA Hour.
But Paul’s former opponent, Ben Askren, questions how anyone could think Diaz stands a chance.
Askren told Submission Radio:
“I mean I don’t know why anyone would think that Nate has much of a chance given what just happened. Nate’s a lot smaller. I don’t think anyone would consider Nate on the level of striker that Anderson is, but yeah I guess it might happen.”
Askren said that in his opinion, a match between the two wouldn’t be a very significant occasion.
He might want to watch his opinions though. Diaz recently lashed out against Michael Bisping after Bisping expressed a similar opinion.
Bisping made a statement on his YouTube Channel saying,
“While the majority of Nate Diaz’s fights happened at 155, he was a lightweight then he went up to welterweight, 170-pounds, and he went 5-5.”
“The only knockout that he got was against Rory Markham in 2010.” He said.
“Listen, with boxing gloves on, I don’t think it will be a good idea for Nate Diaz. Nate Diaz was a tremendous mixed martial artist. He beat some phenomenal people, had a tremendous career. He lost some fights and he won a lot of fights.”
“The jiu-jitsu would be gone, the kicking game is gone, the general craftsmanship and the gameplans and the adversity of attacks, punches, kicks, knees, elbows, strangles, chokeholds, triangles, takedowns, you name it.”
He continued. “That’s what Diaz could do. Those are the advantages he’d have over a Jake Paul.”
Diaz didn’t take too kindly to these claims and hit back at Bisping posting on social media:
Diaz posted the image of Bisping being KO’d by his former rival Dan Henderson at UFC 100, whilst writing: “The only fight I ever saw by this goofy f*****. Don’t hate me cause you ain’t me MB.”
Diaz wound up deleting the tweet later.
Paul opened as a two to one favorite if he were to face DiIaz in future.