MMA Junkie: Jake Paul calls out Conor McGregor for his next match after Nate Diaz

Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz – MVP Face 2 Face

Internet star-turned-kickboxer Jake Paul has been targeting MMA’s biggest names ever since his early success in the ring. Paul recently made it clear that he wanted a potential clash with dual-weight champion Conor McGregor.

“The Problem Child” is set to face UFC veteran Nate Diaz in a middleweight match this Saturday. Deeming Diaz as McGregor’s long-time rival, Paul is confident that a victory over Diaz could entice McGregor into a showdown.

“When I knock out Nate Diaz and do what Conor couldn’t, it only makes sense for him to want that money fight,” Paul told MMA Junkie. “I don’t know how serious he’s taking fighting at all, and I don’t know how serious the fight world is taking him.”

While Paul was eager to fight the Irishman, he also questioned whether McGregor still has “that same appeal” as before. Unlike McGregor, who had to seek permission from UFC President Dana White, Paul emphasized his autonomy in decision-making regarding fights. He also suggested that contractual obligations set by the UFC might hinder McGregor’s ability to engage.

In their series, McGregor and Diaz share a 1-1 record. With a majority decision, McGregor secured victory over Diaz in their August 2016 rematch at UFC 202. Since then, McGregor’s activity has dwindled, engaging in just five MMA fights and a brief bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in boxing.

Recently, McGregor expressed his intentions via a tweet, later deleted, conveying his disinterest in the Paul vs. Diaz result. Instead, he aimed to claim the BMF belt from the newly crowned Justin Gaethje and then defend it in a trilogy match against Diaz.

The 38-year-old former UFC lightweight title contender has consistently expressed his desire to rejoin the promotion. Many within the community assumed Diaz would transition to boxing after leaving the UFC, a prediction shared by Paul.

“I think Nate was always the plan since he was getting out of the UFC,” Paul said. “Right now, I’m just focusing on this fight, and we’ll see what happens moving on from here. There’s still a lot of big names, a lot of big fights to be made. And again, I’m just going to continue challenging myself and continuing to fight big names in the sport.”

Face-off gets physical

Things heat up as the face-off between Diaz and Paul got physical a day before their fight in Dallas. Diaz displayed heightened aggression, launching a kick at Paul as tensions flared between the two.

After the intense face-off, Diaz talked with Ariel Helwani and expressed his gratitude for his support from fans. For his opponent Paul, he conveyed his belief that he could not truly fight whether the match ended in a win or a loss for him.

On the other hand, Paul took a proactive stance, arriving with his own prepared lines. He entered the scene accompanied by unreleased self-made music before proceeding to the scales. Paul challenged the perception of Diaz’s toughness, belittling the booing audience by branding them as “virgins.”

Paul took the lead at the commission and the ceremonial weigh-ins, stepping onto the scales and using a towel to hit the 185lb mark. Although Diaz had fought as light as 155lb during his prime in the UFC, he also had to shed layers to achieve an official weight of 184.9lb before their encounter at the American Airlines Center later in the day.