Dana White says Nate Diaz told him he’d never do ‘goofy’ boxing match with Jake Paul

If UFC President, Dana White, is to be believed, fans can stop fantasizing about a potential Nate Diaz vs. Jake Paul boxing match.

The Stockton, Calif., native is officially set to have his final fight in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) this coming Sept. 10, 2022, in UFC 279’s main event opposite Khamzat Chimaev. Diaz made his way into the promotion through The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 in June 2007.

As one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts (MMA) today, Diaz should find himself with plenty of options in his life after UFC, no matter what happens in his last dance. However, the most likely option might not actually be as realistic as many have been believing.

LIVE! Watch ‘Paul Vs. Diaz’ On DAZN PPV

READY FOR WAR! International superstar and serial risk-taker, Jake “The Problem Child” Paul, is once again up against a very big (and very different) challenge in regard to his budding combat sports career when he takes on former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) superstar (and Conor McGregor slayer), Nate Diaz, inside American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Sat., Aug. 5, 2023, streaming live on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV). “Paul vs. Diaz” which will also feature multiple-time women’s boxing champion, Amanda Serrano, battling former WBO queenpin, Heather Hardy, for the undisputed Featherweight title in DAZN’s PPV co-main event. Special start time is slated for 8 p.m. ET, with a PPV price tag of $59.99.

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“I don’t know [if Diaz will fight Paul],” White told Yahoo Sports. “He said, ‘I would never do that.’ That’s what he said to me. He said, ‘That s—t’s goofy.’ I don’t know. That’s what he said to me.”

The one-time UFC Lightweight title challenger, Diaz, has never been one who’s shy about expressing how he feels on a certain subject — these past few months where he’s demanded his release being a prime example.

Ahead of the clash with No. 3-ranked UFC Welterweight contender, Chimaev, Diaz has made it abundantly clear that he’s no longer interested in the money and just wants specific types of challenges. What kinds of challenges? Well, UFC Heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, was someone mentioned ... but back to reality.

Chimaev gets to offer up the Diaz-UFC swan song and from White’s perspective, it’s a fight that needed to be made despite some public backlash.

“We made it, and here we are,” White told media following yesterday’s (Tues., July 26, 2022) Contender Series (h/t MMA Fighting). “And it’s a good fight. It’s a fight people want to see. It’s a fight that people will be interested in, so we’re going to do it.”

As for the aforementioned Paul, he’ll next be stepping back in the ring on Aug. 6, 2022, against Hasim Rahman Jr.

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