Nate Diaz has mentioned he is aware of the ‘secret’ to Jake Paul’s success as a boxer, whereas warning the YouTube star: ‘I’m in on it, too.’
UFC icon Diaz, 38, will make his skilled boxing debut on Saturday, dealing with Paul in Dallas, Texas. The bout will mark Diaz’s first struggle since leaving the UFC in September, when he submitted Tony Ferguson. Meanwhile, 26-year-old Paul final fought in February, struggling his first loss as he was crushed on factors by Tommy Fury.
Prior to that end result, American Paul was unbeaten with wins over ex-UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, in addition to combined martial arts star Ben Askren. Paul knocked out Askren, beat Woodley on factors then by way of knockout in a rematch, earlier than defeating Silva by way of determination.
Addressing his compatriot’s boxing profession forward of their struggle this weekend, Diaz mentioned on Wednesday (2 August): “The thing about him is, he knows that MMA fighters can’t box and they’re in over their heads trying to box, because he went in there and worked a bunch over in training and in fights.
“MMA fighters don’t know this, but the only thing about that is: I’m in on the same secret, and I’ve been in on that since I was 15. I’m not your average wrestler, MMA fighter.
“I didn’t wrestle. When these guys he fought were in the wrestling room at five, six, seven, 10, 15 years old, I was boxing the whole neighbourhood, boxing every pro I could find. I was boxing the highest level I could find, my whole career.”
As a combined martial artist, Diaz is finest recognized for his jiu-jitsu expertise, though his quantity hanging and cardio additionally characterised his UFC run.
In distinction, Woodley and Askren had been predominantly wrestlers, though Silva is seen by many as the best striker in MMA historical past.
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