MMA Star Nate Diaz Addresses His Actions in Street Fight That Went Viral
Former UFC fighter Nate Diaz is claiming self-defense in regard to his involvement in a viral brawl that took place Saturday night on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Police have issued an arrest warrant for Diaz on suspicion of second-degree battery for his alleged role.
In a statement to MMA Fighting, Diaz attorney Walter Becker “looks forward to presenting all of the facts about this incident to the District Attorney which clearly demonstrate that a trained fighter named Rodney Petersen aggressively pursued Nate with the intention of engaging him and once doing so, Nate acted entirely in self-defense. No further comment will be made at this time.”
The charge stems from a video of the incident in which the Diaz appears to be seen choking social media personality Rodney Petersen. Prior to the choke, Petersen is seen in the video putting both hands up in a non-combative fashion as Diaz makes his way closer. After Petersen was rendered unconscious by the hold, Diaz dropped Petersen’s body head first onto the pavement.
The 34-year old Peterson has 213,000 followers on TikTok based off his strong resemblance to boxer Logan Paul.
Prior to the brawl on Bourbon Street, Diaz was involved in another altercation at the XULA Convocation Centre in New Orleans after throwing a water bottle at boxer Chase DeMoor.
‼️ Nate Diaz choking a man out in a street fight after attending his teammate Chris Avila’s fight on the Misfits Boxing show in New Oreleans last night…
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) April 22, 2023
[???? @PaulLABamba] pic.twitter.com/3sgu3Fac6F
Another video, posted by Petersen, displays the head injury he suffered in the fight while explaining confusion over Diaz’s actions.
“I don’t know what the hell I did to Nate Diaz,” Petersen said in the video. “But I’m telling you what, I’m gonna knock him out …when I know he’s coming. You caught me off guard, dude. What did you think I was, Logan?”
The social media personality is referring to his remarkable likeness to Paul. Diaz is scheduled to face Jake Paul, Logan’s brother, on Aug. 5 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Note: The following video contains profanity.
The man choked out by Nate Diaz last night (Rodney Petersen) reveals the head injury he suffered during the encounter.#UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/QNTmaAWDhC
— MMA DIRT (@MMADIRTcom) April 22, 2023