Eddie Hearn has weighed in on the upcoming crossover clash between Jake Paul and Nate Diaz, and it’s safe to say he doesn’t have much confidence in Diaz’ chances.
Diaz ended his UFC stint on a high, submitting Tony Ferguson via Guillotine Choke in his final bout with the organisation in September of last year.
However, speaking on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Hearn stated he believed the Stockton brawler will not last four rounds against Paul on August 5th.
“I watch clips of Nate Diaz hitting pads, you know that it’s going to be a mismatch against Jake Paul? And I’ve met Nate a couple of times, what a gent.
But for it to be a mismatch against Jake Paul – it won’t go four rounds.
Unless it’s all a bit of a bluff by Nate, what I saw. You can see people hit pads, and you know whether they can fight.
And we’re talking about Jake Paul, we’re not talking about Fury or AJ fighting an MMA fighter.”
One of the biggest stars in the world of MMA, Diaz recently announced his retirement from the sport after a long and storied career that saw him face Conor McGregor twice, defeating the Irishman the first time they locked horns.
Although Diaz fought at both 155lbs and 170lbs during his MMA career, the meeting with Paul will take place at a catchweight of 185lbs – the same terms ‘The Problem Child’ boxed Tommy Fury at back in February.
It will be Paul’s first bout since losing out to Fury in Saudi Arabia, which was his first defeat since starting his professional boxing journey back in 2020.