UFC legend Nate Diaz risks injury by taking part in gruelling sport THREE WEEKS before Jake Paul fight
NATE DIAZ risks potentially picking up an injury just weeks before his showdown with Jake Paul – by taking part in TWO triathlons.
The former UFC lightweight title challenger will lock horns with the YouTuber-turned-boxer in a Dallas dust-up on August 5.
Diaz, 38, has trained in triathlons throughout his career in order to keep himself in tip-top shape.
And he would’ve taken part in back-to-back triathlons by the time he shares the ring with Problem Child Paul.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, he said: “I’ve got a race this weekend and next weekend also.
“But this one’s going to be in a lake so that’s good. Those are my favourite races.”
Diaz shares his love of triathlons with brother Nick, who has competed in the treacherous ‘Escape From Alcatraz’ – in which competitors swim from the notorious island prison back to mainland San Franciso.
But Nate has yet to participate in the race, admitting: “I never did Alcatraz though, my brother did it.
“I would have done that one but we race all year long.
“And about a week or two out I try not to do too big of races.
“So every time he’s done Alcatraz I was about two weeks out from a fight so I’d always miss that race.
“But I’ve done other stuff like I did the Big Kahuna half Ironman in Santa Cruz, out there you swim around the pier.
“The whole team you hear seals and a load of s**t, it’s the scariest thing ever I hate those.”
Nate isn’t the biggest fan of ocean swims – mainly because of his fear of being eaten by sharks.
He continued: “Every time we would be on the beach getting ready to go in the morning, my brother would be all pumped up.
“I’d be like ‘Motherf****r, I’m only doing this because of you and now I’m going to get eaten by a shark’.
“I hate ocean swims but I’ve done a bunch of them and now that my brother hasn’t been competing as much, I haven’t been dragged into too many ocean ones.”
Nate’s clash with Paul will be his maiden professional boxing match and first outing since officially leaving the UFC last November.
And former Disney star Paul plans to make it a long night at the office for the Stockton slugger.
The 26-year-old said: “I’m going to make sure it’s a living hell the whole time.
“I think that he’s got a long night ahead of him.
“I do as well but I’m not afraid of it. I’m ready to rock and roll.”