Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz is expected to be a highly discussed fight in combat sports in 2023, but its competitiveness remains uncertain.
The Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz fight is predicted to become one of the most talked-about events in combat sports in 2023. However, there is much speculation surrounding the competitiveness of the matchup. Although Paul has yet to prove himself as a threat to experienced boxers, he has a respectable 6-1 record, including wins over UFC legends Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. Paul lost his most recent fight to Tommy Fury in a close split decision but has amassed seven professional fights since turning pro just over three years ago.
On the other hand, Diaz has far more overall experience with 34 fights in MMA. However, despite training alongside boxing champions like Andre Ward, he has never strapped on the gloves for a professional match. Diaz will also go up to 185 pounds for the fight with Paul after competing at either 155 or 170 pounds throughout his UFC career. These factors have led UFC welterweight Matt Brown to believe that Diaz doesn’t stand a great chance of winning unless he can drag the fight into the later rounds.
Brown commented on the matchup, saying, “[Nate Diaz] has good boxing, but he’s very hittable and he’s so much smaller than Jake. Jake does have a good right hand. That’s how he’s been knocking people out, and as a hittable southpaw, that’s bad for Nate. I’m going to pick Jake Paul to win this fight. But the big thing Nate has going for him is the cardio.” Brown speculates that if Diaz can survive four or five rounds and wear Paul out, he may have a chance at victory, though many may still be hard-pressed to bet on him.
Generous paychecks aside, the real attraction of the Paul-Diaz matchup may be the promotion and hype surrounding it. Much like the Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather fight, the buildup is expected to bring significant viewership and revenue to the pay-per-view event. Brown admits, “The fight isn’t even exciting. I don’t care — but the buildup, I’m probably going to be more interested in watching that than the fight itself.”