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In a surprising turn of events, former UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has shared his prediction for the highly anticipated boxing match between Nate Diaz and YouTube sensation turned professional boxer, Jake Paul. Poirier, who has a storied history with Diaz, expressed his support for Paul, citing his reasons for favoring the controversial internet star to come out on top.
Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz have a long-standing rivalry that has spanned several years. They were scheduled to face each other at UFC 230 in 2018, but an unfortunate injury forced Poirier to withdraw from the bout.
Their feud escalated on social media, with both fighters exchanging verbal jabs and calling each other out. However, the opportunity to settle their differences never materialized before Diaz left the UFC in late 2022 to pursue new avenues. Despite their heated history, Poirier harbors no ill will towards Diaz and acknowledges the importance of fighters being adequately compensated and finding success outside the UFC.
Poirier expressed his satisfaction with Diaz's upcoming high-profile boxing match against Jake Paul, scheduled for August 5 in Dallas. While Poirier had actively campaigned to be Diaz's final UFC opponent, that opportunity ultimately went to Tony Ferguson. With Diaz now venturing into the boxing world, Poirier believes that Paul has what it takes to secure the victory. Poirier's prediction aligns with his desire for fighters to succeed, regardless of the organization they compete in.
“Man, Jake’s younger, bigger, faster — it’s not an easy fight,” Poirier said. “Just because Nate’s a grizzled veteran with the right experience, and Jake’s a new guy who’s on YouTube — he’s got the money and the amenities to surround himself with the best people and dedicate himself to fighting, and he’s younger and more explosive. And I think Diaz’s boxing is good for MMA — it’s a completely different thing. It’s a completely different thing.”
With Diaz's boxing debut just a week after Poirier's highly anticipated rematch against Justin Gaethje at UFC 291, Poirier hopes to attend the event in person. As long as he recovers from his fight in time, Poirier plans to make the journey from his home in Louisiana to witness the clash between Diaz and Paul at Dallas' American Airlines Center.
While their rivalry may have gone unresolved, Poirier supports Diaz's pursuit of new opportunities and hopes that he achieves success in his boxing endeavor. As fight fans eagerly await the Diaz-Paul showdown, all eyes will be on Dallas to see if Poirier's prediction comes true and if Jake Paul can prove his mettle against the seasoned warrior, Nate Diaz.
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