{"id":803656,"date":"2026-07-16T09:35:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T09:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/803656\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T09:35:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T09:35:08","slug":"jake-paul-targets-nate-diaz-for-long-awaited-mma-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/803656\/","title":{"rendered":"Jake Paul targets Nate Diaz for long-awaited MMA fight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jake
\nPaul<\/a> believes a mixed martial arts debut could be in his future
\nonce he returns from the jaw injury that has sidelined him since
\nlosing to Anthony
\nJoshua<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Paul recently revealed that he expects to be medically cleared for
\nfull-contact sparring within the next few weeks as he continues
\nrecovering from the broken jaw he suffered against Joshua last
\nDecember. Apart from his return to boxing, “The Problem Child\u201d said
\nthat he also plans to make his MMA debut under the
\nMost Valuable Promotions<\/a> banner.<\/p>\n

Paul says the proposed Nate Diaz matchup remains a possibility
\nas MVP expands into MMA.
\n
\nNow weeks away from getting cleared for full-contact sparring, Paul
\nhas revealed that he is planning a switch to the cage, with
\nNate
\nDiaz<\/a> as the likely opponent. Notably, Diaz has already fought
\nunder MVP, losing to Mike Perry<\/a>
\nat the promotion\u2019s inaugural MMA event.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I’ll do some MMA. We’ve got a lot of stuff with MVP coming
\nsoon, big promotions getting more into the whole MMA world,\u201d Paul
\nsaid during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” \u201cThe feud
\nbetween MVP MMA and
\nUFC<\/a> continues… We’ve been trying to make the Nate Diaz MMA
\nfight happen for a long time and I think it’s still on the table,
\nso we’ll see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul further revealed that he\u2019s never trained in MMA and will need
\nto learn kicking and grappling before his maiden bout.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never practiced MMA, but I\u2019ve wrestled and boxed so I just
\nneed to learn the kicks and jiu-jitsu\u2026 I\u2019m part Jewish, so I feel
\nlike I\u2019d be good at jiu-jitsu! See what I did there?\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n

Jake Paul<\/a>
\nwants to fight Nate Diaz<\/a> in
\nMMA<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never practiced MMA, but I\u2019m like part Jewish, so I feel like
\nI\u2019d be good at jiu jitsu.\u201d<\/p>\n

(via @PatMcAfeeShow<\/a>)
\npic.twitter.com\/HOkShc0S54<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Happy Punch (@HappyPunch)
\nJuly 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n