Conor McGregor, Diaz's former opponent, was among those who expressed disappointment.
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MMA fighters and fans held high hopes that Nate Diaz would be the one to deliver a knockout blow to Jake Paul. As multiple UFC veterans attempted to take on the influencer-turned-boxer and failed, Diaz was seen as the next contender to uphold the reputation of legitimate combat sports athletes.
Discontent among fighters surfaced as they expected more from Diaz in the early rounds, given his high level of training. Conor McGregor, Diaz’s former opponent, was among those who expressed disappointment.
“Fuck this , sweetie what’s up,” he tweeted.
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In an unexpected turn, Diaz came alive in the fourth round, dominating the ring and turning the tide in his favor against Paul. As the fifth round unfolded, Paul managed to knock down Diaz, sensing an opportunity for a knockout as he had predicted. However, Diaz showed resilience and refused to go down easily. The intensity continued into the sixth round, with both fighters engaging in a fierce battle. Despite the excitement, some fighters took issue with the commentary during the match.
As the eighth round commenced, Diaz unleashed a flurry of intense combinations, posing a threat to Paul. However, with the round coming to a close, it seemed like Diaz’s efforts might have been too late to secure a victory. Meanwhile, Roman Dolidze made it clear that he had no interest in watching the fight.
As the clock ticked down to the final minute of the round, Diaz unleashed a relentless assault on Paul, but despite his efforts, he couldn’t sway the judges’ decision in his favor. The official result declared Jake Paul as the winner, with a unanimous decision of 97-92, 98-91, and 98-91 in his favor.
Conor McGregor has charted a well-thought-out course for his return to the octagon with a two-fight plan. Initially, he had a matchup scheduled against Michael Chandler, a fellow contestant on The Ultimate Fighter, with whom he shared experiences during their time on the show in Las Vegas.
However, it appears that Conor McGregor has redirected his attention from the bout against Michael Chandler and is now fixated on a thrilling trilogy clash with Nate Diaz. This audacious endeavor comes on the heels of his forthcoming foray into the world of boxing, as he gears up for his debut against Jake Paul in Dallas on Saturday night.
The roots of the McGregor-Diaz rivalry can be traced back to December 2015, when Diaz fearlessly issued a brazen challenge to the recently crowned undisputed featherweight champion, leaving no room for ambiguity in his explicit callout.
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