The Jake Paul next fight news has arrived. The man known as “Problem Child” will make his return to the ring in August, and waiting for him will be one of the most popular fighters in UFC history to make his professional boxing debut.
Related: UFC tonight – Fight card, odds, and watch times for the UFC’s next event
Who is Jake Paul next fight against?
Following his surprise loss to Tommy Fury earlier this year, Paul announced he will be back in a boxing ring this summer to face one of the biggest free agents in combat sports, Nate Diaz. The pair have called for a fight over the last year, but the matchup only became possible after the UFC great finished out his contract with the MMA world leader last year.
How to watch Paul vs Diaz on Aug. 5
- Paul vs Diaz will serve as the main event of a card on August 5
- The bout will take place inside the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas
- The fight will air exclusively on DAZN
Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz preview
Jake Paul has built his boxing reputation off facing popular MMA stars. On August 5, he will get his best test yet from a former cage fighter since Diaz is still in his athletic prime, has long been respected for his boxing acumen, and has uncanny durability.
Experience gap: While Nate Diaz has a huge amount of fighting experience, he hasn’t fought in a boxing-only bout. As we have seen with previous Paul opponents like Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, and Anderson Silva, the transition to boxing can be difficult and it has meant a significant edge fo the Ohio native when it comes to boxing-centric training. Diaz will need his aggressiveness and toughness to score a win in August.
The Stockton contingent: In his fights, Paul has often been the fighter with the bigger fan base. However, Nate Diaz is one of the most beloved MMA fighters of all time, and he is sure to bring a large contingent of fans rooting for him at press conferences and on fight night. That will be a very different atmosphere for Paul and it will be interesting to see how he mentally deals with being confronted by such a strong fanbase for an opponent.
- Paul vs. Diaz betting odds: Paul (-285), Diaz (+220)
The bottom line: This is a matchup of two highly popular athletes that their legion of fans is sure to turn out for. It says a lot that Paul is a strong favorite to win, however, the UFC great can never be underestimated in any fight.
What makes Jake Paul so popular?
A transcendent talent: There are just some people who, for better or worse, capture the imagination of the viewing public. And Jake Paul has been able to do that for much of his adult life.
- Jake Paul boxing record: 6-1 (4 knockouts)
- Paul has a serious mass appeal because he has the gift of gab in whatever venture he is creating content for. The man knows how to connect with the key demographics in American culture, and his 20 million YouTube subscribers and 27 million followers spread over his Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram prove it.
- The Californian has a brash bravado that channels the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor. He can be tasteless and over the top with his self-promotion but it pulls in millions of avid supporters. However, unlike the aforementioned combat superstars, outside of an FBI raid of his home in 2020, he has kept his reputation mostly clean of convictions, settlements, and multiple days in court.
- Despite some doubts early on, Paul has reached another echelon of popularity by showcasing some solid boxing abilities. Combat sports fans love a fighter who talks a bunch of trash and can deliver knockout results. Weak competition or not, Paul has done that in winning five straight, and over two former MMA world champions.
- “Problem Child” developed a serious rivalry with UFC boss Dana White over the last few years. As he looked to embarrass the MMA executive by shining a light on the imbalance in revenue sharing between the promotion and its fighters in 2021 and added to that in 2022 with a scathing “diss track” on the UFC’s head honcho.
- The Ohio native will be expanding his fighting horizons in 2023 after he signed an exclusive deal to compete in MMA for the Professional Fighters League.
- Paul is now dabbling in the world of professional wrestling with his brother Logan and was actually in his corner for his title bout again WWE superstar Roman Reigns at WWE Crown Jewel in November.
Jake Paul’s net worth
The measure of a fighter is often down to the money they’ve made throughout their career. Jake Paul’s net worth is estimated to be nearly $60 million. In 2022, he earned a ranking on the Forbes 50 highest-paid athletes list for the first time. Landing at No. 46.