Jake Paul beats Nate Diaz after dropping UFC legend in fifth round with talk quickly turning to $10m rematch in MMA
JAKE PAUL revived his boxing career with a massive points with over Nate Diaz.
The YouTuber-turned prizefighter stepped into the ring with his place in the sport on the line following his first loss earlier in the year.
But Paul secured a unanimous points win over ten rounds in Texas to get back to winning ways.
He said: “I knocked him down, won basically every round. I think he won one round but he’s a warrior.
“I had him hurt in the first round, he kept on coming. All credit to my team, my conditioning, going ten rounds in my eighth fight, it’s unheard of.
“I’ve only been boxing for three years, he’s a UFC legend, I was watching this kid growing up.”
Paul, 26, had snubbed a rematch with Tommy Fury, 24, following his split-decision defeat in Saudi Arabia last February.
He instead chose to welcome Diaz, 38, over to the boxing ring after the MMA veteran walked out on the UFC.
And Paul came out of the traps quickly in the opening round, backing Diaz up with power shots.
A left hook staggered the UFC fans’ favourite into the ropes and he looked to be in trouble.
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But the ever resilient Diaz fought it off and made it into the second round.
Paul began to invest in the body with combinations and was forced to fight back on the inside with uppercuts exchanged.
By the fourth round, Diaz began to come forward in his trademark style, leaving Paul to stand his ground and trade back.
Paul drew first blood on the halfway mark as he dropped Diaz in the fifth round.
A check left hook on the top of the head left him tumbling into the ropes but he was soon to his feet.
Diaz actually ended the round strong, pouring the pressure and putting Paul on the back foot.
The pace of the bout slowed in the sixth and both began to look sloppier and visibly more tired.
Diaz seemed to get his second wind in the final third of the fight, pressing Paul.
But the self-proclaimed Problem Child was sharp boxing on the retreat, walking Diaz into counters.
Diaz began to pander the the crowd down the stretch, pretending to be hurt and refusing to engage.
As the bell rang for the tenth round both came out with intent but it was Paul who landed the cleaner.
Diaz finished strong but it proved too little too late, as Paul boxed his way to another points win and called for a rematch in MMA.
He said: “I want to run it back in MMA. Yeah, $10million PFL that’s the offer let’s run it back in MMA.
“Make it fair, I won one, now it’s your chance in your territory, MMA let’s do it.”