When Nate Diaz finally shed the contractual chains that bound him to the Ultimate Fighting Championship following his September 2022 victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279, the Stockton veteran made it clear that his fighting future would be dictated entirely on his own terms. Having spent a career spanning back to 2007 under the promotion's banner—racking up 21 wins, including 17 stoppages against names like Conor McGregor, Anthony Pettis, and Donald Cerrone—Diaz immediately set his sights on boxing and fresh challenges outside the Octagon.
That post-UFC trajectory initially intersected with Jake Paul in August, when the two met inside a boxing ring in Dallas, Texas. In that 10-round encounter hosted at the American Airlines Center, Paul emerged victorious via a unanimous decision on the judges' scorecards. Rather than closing the book on the rivalry, the bout served as a catalyst for a shifting landscape of cross-code call-outs and promotional maneuvering.
While Paul has occasionally floated the idea of stepping into the cage for an MMA rematch, the logistical reality and timeline have triggered a sharp public rebuke from the former UFC star. Professional friction escalated further when PFL head Donn Davis told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that Diaz could command an estimated $10 to $15 million payday for a mixed martial arts clash against the 26-year-old influencer-turned-boxer. Yet, despite the lucrative figures tossed around by promotion executives, Diaz remains profoundly skeptical of Paul’s actual willingness to step into an MMA environment anytime soon.
Frustrated by the promotional delays and the horizon set by his rival's team, Diaz took direct aim at Paul on social media, cutting through the corporate posturing with characteristic bluntness:
Nate Diaz
Tenhle zm*d říká, že tento zápas chce. Já jsem připraven bojovat dnes a tahle děv*a prý bude připravená až v roce 2025.
Translated from the fighter's raw public assessment, Diaz emphasized the stark contrast in urgency: This fucker talkin like he wants to fight I’m ready to fight tonite this bitch ain’t ready til 2025.
The friction underscores a broader tactical and promotional standoff. Where Paul’s camp has previously managed their fighter's transition through carefully curated boxing matchups—such as his prior bouts against Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, and Anderson Silva—Diaz operates with the mindset of a lifelong gym veteran who claims he has never stopped training for combat sports since his youth. Having initially planned to pursue boxing before getting sidetracked by regional MMA tournaments and lengthy promotional exclusivity in the UFC, Diaz views the current landscape as entirely open.
Whether this war of words over a 2025 targeted return accelerates actual negotiations or remains part of the ongoing theater of combat sports posturing depends entirely on how much financial incentive promotions like the PFL are willing to guarantee. For now, the Stockton native has made his stance unambiguous: if the call-out is real, the calendar needs to clear out immediately.
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