Jake Paul appeared on Theo Von's podcast and stated he plans to fight Nate Diaz under MMA rules if Diaz can defeat Mike Perry. Paul made a dramatic vow involving his late mother, claiming Diaz is the easiest and worst boxer he has ever faced. He expressed a strong desire to compete against Diaz in an MMA bout, stating he doesn't care about the money at this point. Paul believes the fight will happen and seems confident about his chances. The condition for the bout is Diaz first securing a victory over Perry.
Jake Paul has issued a public challenge to Nate Diaz, declaring on Theo Von's podcast that he will fight the MMA veteran under mixed martial arts rules — but only if Diaz first defeats Mike Perry.
Paul was blunt in his assessment of Diaz as a boxer, calling him the easiest and worst boxer he has ever faced. He went further, invoking his late mother in a vow to make the MMA bout happen, and insisted the money is no longer the motivating factor for him. Paul expressed confidence that the fight will come to fruition once Perry is out of the way.
Nate Diaz, 41, carries a professional MMA record of 22 wins and 13 losses and trains out of the Cesar Gracie Fight Team. The Stockton native stands six feet tall with a 76-inch reach and fights out of a southpaw stance. He lands 4.57 significant strikes per minute and averages 1.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflecting the grappling threat that has defined his career across the welterweight and lightweight divisions.
Standing in his path is Mike Perry, known as Platinum, who holds a 14-8-0 record at 34 years of age. The six-foot-two, 178-centimeter Perry fights orthodox and carries a 47 percent striking accuracy rate, landing 4.32 significant strikes per minute. Perry has shown durability and forward pressure throughout his career, and the outcome of his clash with Diaz would serve as the gateway to Paul's proposed MMA crossover.
Why it matters
- A Paul versus Diaz MMA bout would mark Paul's first contest under full mixed martial arts rules, a significant step beyond boxing crossovers.
- Diaz's submission threat, averaging 1.3 attempts per 15 minutes, would present a challenge unlike anything Paul has faced in boxing.
- The callout keeps both Diaz and Perry relevant in the combat sports conversation ahead of their own scheduled meeting.
