After 18 long months of trading barbs, Jake Paul and Nate Diaz will finally square up on August 5th at the American Airlines arena in Dallas, TX. Per the agreement, the bout will be held at 185 lbs, and the fighters will use 10-ounce gloves. By using the lighter gloves, they are closer to the weight and feel of the fingerless knuckle gloves worn in the UFC and other MMA organizations.
Unlike previous Jake Paul fights, this one will be a 50-50 split between Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and Diaz’s Real Fight Inc. With this being the first time Diaz has promoted himself, his first pro boxing match, and his first time fighting outside the UFC in 15 years, he has a mountain to climb. However, that mountain will be worth it.
Even after competing in some of the best-selling UFC title fights to date, and two fights against Connor McGregor, Diaz still has never had that boxing kind of payday. Given the split for promotion and costs, these two will ultimately make an easy 8-figures each for the contest.
After suffering a defeat to legitimate boxer Tommy Fury in a split decision, many expected Jake to fight fellow YouTuber KSI. Not his style says, Jake. “Now, the world thinks I am vulnerable when all I am is more focused than ever. My team wanted me to take an easy fight like KSI next, but that’s not how I am built. 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.”
For Diaz, this is one of the very few fights that interest the Stockton, CA native. “Besides Canelo, he’s the biggest thang in boxing,” read Diaz’s statement. “I’m here to conquer that. I’m the King of combat sports and then I’m headed back to get my UFC belts. 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.”
