Popular YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is ready to step back into the ring after his first professional defeat against Tommy Fury. This time, he will face off against MMA superstar Nate Diaz on August 5th at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.
Popular combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani hosted and moderated the media-only press conference for the Paul vs. Diaz bout. He recently expressed his disappointment with Jake Paul’s behavior during their press conference, where he belittled Diaz’s accomplishments.
Diaz has an MMA record consisting of 21 wins 13 losses spanning from 2004 until 2022.
In a recent episode of ‘The MMA Hour,’ Helwani voiced his concerns regarding Paul’s actions. He stated that Paul diminished the fans’ interest in the match.
According to Helwani, if Paul aims to prove himself against a formidable opponent he should not undermine his rival’s credibility. Helwani stated on his podcast: “I don’t understand why he’s [Jake Paul] s**tting on Nate’s record.”
“You want the world to know and think that you are going to be fighting a tough guy who has an impressive resume and pedigree because then when you beat him, you could say, ‘Look, I told you this guy was tough, and look what I just did.’ [It] Makes no sense.”
Contrary to expectations, former UFC star Nate Diaz appeared to be more supportive of Jake Paul than the YouTuber was of him. Helwani continued: “Nate was actually propping him up more than Jake was propping him up, which I was surprised.”
During the press conference, both combatants agreed to compete in a 12-round bout. To maintain fairness and integrity, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency will oversee the drug-testing procedures for the match.
This upcoming bout against Nate Diaz holds significant importance in Jake Paul’s boxing career. Diaz boasts a massive following among combat sports enthusiasts, and this is his boxing debut. Therefore, fans have been eagerly awaiting the outcome of this matchup between the two.