YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul added another win over a decorated mixed martial artist to his name following a unanimous decision nod against fan favorite Nate Diaz this Sunday (Philippine time) at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Paul went to work right off the opening bell peppering Diaz with hard punches to the head and body. Diaz circled the ring, looking to survive the early onslaught but was unable to land a telling blow.
Diaz came alive in round two as he pressed the action while Paul boxed threw shots to the head and body. In round three, Paul caught Diaz with a left hook that momentarily stunned the latter. Diaz swarmed Paul with punches from the inside in round 4.
Diaz continued to stalk the following round but got caught with a left hook to the temple that sent him crashing to the canvas. Paul tried to finish the bout, but Diaz was able to recover and threw punches of his own. In round 7, Diaz went on the attack forcing Paul to retreat.
Diaz moved forward in the last three rounds throwing punches in bunches and catching Paul with several uppercuts. Paul, meanwhile, looked exhausted late in the contest.
All three judges saw the bout for Paul after ten rounds, improving his record to 7-1 while Diaz lost his pro boxing debut.
“He is tough. He is really tough, that is what he is known for,” Paul quipped after the fight.
Diaz is a veteran MMA fighter with over 15 years of experience in the UFC. He was the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 5 and has competed for the UFC lightweight title.
Prior to the fight with Diaz, Paul had faced and defeated several former MMA fighters under boxing rules, including former ONE welterweight champion Ben Askren, former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley twice, and MMA legend Anderson Silva, though the Brazilian was 47 years old at the time.
Paul, however, was coming off a loss to Tommy Fury in his most recent fight back in February.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
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