UFC President Dana White just can’t help himself from being part of the conversation regarding a teased fight between outgoing UFC fighter Nate Diaz and celebrity boxer Jake Paul.
Dana White via MMA Crazy YouTube
During a conversation with sports commentator Kevin Dole on Yahoo! Sports, White claimed that during a private conversation with Diaz, the fighter asserted he’d never seriously consider a fight with the YouTube star turned boxing promoter and fighter Jake Paul.
“I don’t know [if Diaz will fight Paul],” White stated. “He [Diaz] said, ‘I would never do that.’ That’s what he said to me. He said, ‘That s***’s goofy.’ I don’t know. That’s what he said to me.”
This is a surprise since for months, Diaz has openly complained about his treatment by the UFC, at one point even accusing them of holding him “hostage,” as they seemed to have taken forever to give him his contractually obligated final fight so he could pursue other ventures, such as a potential match with Paul.
“I was trying to get this s— on the road, but they don’t want me out of contract and they’re keeping me in there and they’re holding me hostage,” said Diaz. “And I want out. That’s my main objective here… I appreciate the UFC, but they’re valuing me in private, but I’m devalued in the public.”
On Diaz’s own Twitter account in June, he posted a clip of “The Problem Child” knocking out former UFC Champion Tyron Woodley during their match in December. Diaz tweeted along with the clip, “Ufc release now please or give me fight with anyone in July or august I have bigger s**t to do.”
Ufc release now please or give me fight with anyone in July or august
I have bigger shit to do pic.twitter.com/xyYSCBysLs— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) June 21, 2022
Related: Hasim Rahman Jr. To Fight Jake Paul After Tommy Fury Withdraws Yet Again
Diaz’s final fight with the UFC, which will then release him from his contract, is with Khamzat Chimaev during the main event of UFC 279 on September 10th at T-Mobile Arena. Diaz’s representatives declined to speak on White’s accusations, saying however that the only fight Diaz is concerned with is his upcoming match with Chimaev.
Nate Diaz via UFC- Ultimate Fighting Championship YouTube
Do you think Diaz is serious about a potential match with Paul once his UFC contract ends, or is it all just for show as White claimed? Leave you thoughts in the comments below.
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