Jake Paul dropped Nate Diaz on the way to a one-sided decision win against the UFC legend.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul got back in the win column for the first time since his loss to Tommy Fury in February whilst Diaz is now 0-1 as a boxer after making his professional debut on the night. Paul had a good first round as Diaz was hurt early on before eventually being dropped in the fifth and despite the 38-year-old coming on stronger in the later rounds, it wasn't enough as the scorecards read 97-92, 98-91 and 98-91 in favour of Paul.
Diaz agreed to Paul's $10million rematch offer after the fight that will see the rivals meet in the PFL after Paul signed for the MMA promotion at the beginning of this year. In the co-main event, Amanda Serrano defended her undisputed featherweight titles with a shoutout win against Heather Hardy whilst there were also wins for the likes of Chris Avila and Ashton Sylve on the undercard.
Harry Davies
McGregor was watching, or was he…
Conor McGregor refused to acknowledge either Jake Paul or Nate Diaz in his tweet about the fight.
Something else caught the eye of the former two-weight UFC champion, read all about that here…
Harry Davies
What's next for Jake Paul?
Rematch against Nate Diaz in MMA?
Try to avenge his loss against Tommy Fury?
The long-awaited grudge fight with KSI?
There are lots of options for Paul's next fight after his one-sided win against Diaz...
Harry Davies
Who else won on the night?
Amanda Serrano retained her undisputed featherweight world titles with a shutout win against Heather Hardy.
Chris Avila beat UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens in a big upset and top prospect Ashton Sylve knocked out William Silva in the fourth round.
Shadasia Green beat Olivia Curry by decision and Alan Sanchez also picked up a points win against Angel Beltran.
Harry Davies
KSI gives his verdict...
— ksi (@KSI) August 6, 2023That Jake Paul performance was terrible
October 14th you get to watch a real fight and challenge pic.twitter.com/BO6WjsRpIY
Harry Davies
Diaz praises Paul for his superstardom
"I'm glad I had a worthy opponent, someone who has done something out of fighting and also made a big name for themselves inside of fighting too. That's what I like, I can go out there against somebody who everyone thinks is going to whip my a** when I beg to differ. So we can definitely come and get that back," Diaz said.
Harry Davies
Paul laughs about Diaz trying to choke him out
Diaz went back to his MMA roots by attempting a guillotine choke in the ninth round, but Paul found the moment funny as he said at the post-fight press conference: "He f****ng choked me, he was actually choking me. No, he actually was. I was like 'This was crazy'. I didn't think he was going to stop but he had it in."
"Obviously I wasn't going to try and defend it. It's just funny, that's why I want to do the rematch back in MMA. It's fun man, I'm with all the s***. If it was in MMA, I would have dropped to double leg then picked him up and dropped him on his head."
Harry Davies
Rematch in MMA?!
“All credit to my team and I want to run it back in MMA," Paul said after the fight. "$10million PFL, that’s the offer. Let’s run it back in MMA to make it fair. I won one, now it's your chance in home territory of MMA. He’s real tough, that’s what he’s known for but tough in this sport doesn’t work. I knocked him and won basically every round, I had him hurt in the first round and he kept on coming."
"Let's do it," Diaz replied to Paul's offer. "We're going to have to co-promote with Real Fight Inc. He's big and he's tough, I wish I could have done better things but some s***, it didn't go the way i wanted it to. I should have trained better and done better things but it’s all good. He won this one but i'll fight anyone, I don't give a f***."
Martin Domin
REPORT: Jake Paul beats Nate Diaz
Read our report from ringside as Jake Paul returned to winning ways...
Martin Domin
Diaz accepts cage fight
Both men have been speaking after the result with Paul reiterating his desire to fight Diaz in the cage, with a $10million offer. Having been non-comittal up till now, Diaz finally accepts the deal.
KEY EVENT
RESULT: JAKE PAUL BEATS NATE DIAZ BY UNANIMOUS DECISION
The judges all award the fight to Jake Paul, by scores of 97-92, 98-91 and 98-91.
KEY EVENT
Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz - Round 10
Diaz needs a KO and he's walking forward with his hands down but Paul is boxing well and lands to the body. Diaz beckons Paul on against the ropes and the YouTuber accepts the invitation and lands again. Diaz attempts to finish the fight in the final minute but he has left it too late as we go to the judges...
KEY EVENT
Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz - Round 9
Paul looked spent on his stool but looks fresh enough in the penultimate round as he looks to see out the fight. Diaz starts to come alive in the second 90 seconds but this won't be enough unless he can land a fight-changing shot.
KEY EVENT
Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz - Round 8
Diaz is more active in the opening stages but Paul has kept his form well and doesn't look to be tiring. Diaz doesn't look to be feeling Paul's power and he is coming on strong but he has only six minutes to turn this fight on its head. Paul will know he can cruise to the end.
KEY EVENT
Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz - Round 7
Diaz is chasing Paul around the ring, he must know he needs a knockout now but there has been absolutely no suggestion he is capable of that, unless Paul has emptied the tank. Paul lands to the body before switching up to the head as he keeps his composure. Diaz steps on the gas in the final minute but he's going to need more than this.
KEY EVENT
Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz - Round 6
Paul takes his time at the start of the sixth as he plots a finish while Diaz looks to have little left. But again he does his best work as the round hits the halfway mark but his shots still carry little power.
KEY EVENT
Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz - Round 5
Diaz is down! A left hook sends the UFC legend down to the canvas. He beats the count but Paul is looking for the finish. He pins Diaz to the ropes but the MMA man looks to have recovered pretty well and beckons Paul on. His fitness was never in doubt but how much longer can he continue. And he finishes the round the stronger!
KEY EVENT
Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz - Round 4
Paul makes a good start to the round as he lands an uppercut inside and follows up with his jab. Diaz throws in volume but has no power behind his punches. He keeps looking for the uppercut but he has barely made a dent thus far. Diaz lands successive left hands with the second one rocking Paul's head back momentarily. Diaz lands a left hook late in the round - is the tide turning?
KEY EVENT
Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz - Round 3
Paul lands an uppercut but Diaz looks relatively unfazed by his power. Diaz lands a jab and has no fear in walking straight in. Paul land a big left hook! Diaz looked to be staggered briefly but comes back with his own left hand - this is a decent scrap, if not high-quality. Diaz's right eye is closing quickly, let's hope we don't have a medical stoppage.
KEY EVENT
Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz - Round 2
Diaz is certainly unorthodox as he runs at Paul with his hands up at the start of the round. Paul looks light on his feet but Diaz has managed to get a hang of fighting on the inside as he looks to land to the body. Diaz talks to the crowd as he tries to get into his opponent's head. He lands a left, this is a better round from the MMA fighter and the crowd responds. Paul switches to the body nicely and then lands a right hook to the head. Diaz laughs off the attack but that's better from Paul. But Diaz's eye is in a bad way already.
KEY EVENT
Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz - Round 1
Paul goes to the body early as both men drop their hands. Paul lands a solid jab which Diaz acknowledges. Paul throws a left hook which doesnt miss by much. Diaz is in big trouble! Paul can hardly miss at the moment but is he puching himself out? Diaz's face is already marking up and he looks terrible in there. Diaz starting to hold already as he looks to smother Paul's work. He manages to get to the end of the round after a torrid opening.
Martin Domin
Here we go...
The first bell sounds and away we go...
Martin Domin
Here comes Nate...
A huge pop for Diaz as he walks to the ring as he is joined by rapper E-40. Not long now...
Martin Domin
Here comes Jake...
Jake Paul walks first and is met by thunderous boos from the Dallaas crowd. Logan joins him on the ringwalk which is quite low-key for the influencer, if wwe're being honest.
Martin Domin
Final words from Jake
"We're just having fun, full of joy right now; love, light... we're ready to explode. All this is surreal; this is my night and Logan is here to enjoy it with me. Just having fun out there, that's what I'm looking for."
Martin Domin
It's main event time!
Jake Paul and Nate Diaz are completing their preparations in the dressing room and will be walking to the ring shortly. And Logan Paul has arrived in his private jet from Detroit to be at ringside.
KEY EVENT
Amanda Serrano bts Heather Hardy via UD
No surprise over the result here as all three judges give Serrano the nod by scores of 99-91, 100-90 and 100-90. She holds on to her featherweight world titles.
Martin Domin
Amanda Serrano vs Heather Hardy - Round 10
Both women come out swinging for the final two minutes as Serrano looks to stop this in the last round. But she cannot budge Hardy who continues to ship punishment. Somehow we go to the judges....
Martin Domin
Amanda Serrano vs Heather Hardy - Round 9
This could be it... Serrano lays into Hardy against the ropes with a minute to go in the round but back comes the challenger as she keeps swinging.
Martin Domin
Amanda Serrano vs Heather Hardy - Round 8
Serrano's right hand cannot miss but Hardy is taking the shots while barely flinching. Her left eye is starting to close over however as we head into the final four minutes.
Martin Domin
Amanda Serrano vs Heather Hardy - Round 7
It looked for all the world as if this would be an early night but Hardy is still in there and doesn't seem to be in too much trouble. She's still shipping punishment but hasn't looked like going down.
