Nate Diaz’s strategy against Jake Paul in their boxing match ultimately didn’t lead to victory, but Diaz had a reason for his approach. Diaz revealed that he entered the fight with a shoulder injury, which influenced his fighting style and performance during the bout.
Diaz explained that his coach, Richard Perez, was frustrated with his training approach leading up to the fight. Diaz’s injury prevented him from fully utilizing his normal boxing techniques. About a month before the fight, Diaz hurt his arm, particularly affecting his jabbing ability. As a result, he adjusted his strategy to fight in close and smother Paul’s punches, which aligned with his Mexican boxing style.
While Diaz acknowledged that he should have stuck to a different strategy, he didn’t want to make excuses. He believes he should have maintained distance, circled, and fought from the outside. Despite the injury, Diaz expressed his commitment to showing up and giving his best effort in the fight.
Diaz’s strategy kept the fight competitive, but he was out-landed by Paul due to his injury and altered approach. Diaz’s coach praised his determination and acknowledged that the injury affected his timing and technique. Despite the challenges, Diaz remained resilient throughout the fight.
Additionally, Diaz discussed the weight class of the bout. The fight took place at 185 pounds, a weight considerably higher than Diaz’s usual weight when competing in the UFC. He noted that he would have preferred to train differently if he knew he would be fighting at that weight and expressed his concerns about the weight difference.