DALLAS – Nate Diaz has nothing however reward for UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards.
Diaz battled Edwards in a five-round bout in June 2021 at UFC 263, the place Edwards placed on a clinic earlier than getting clipped and stumbled late in Spherical 5. Edwards survived the late surge from Diaz and went on to earn a title shot after the win. He dethroned Kamaru Usman to develop into champion at UFC 278 then beat him of their rubber match at UFC 286 to retain the title.
Diaz fought out his UFC contract after submitting Tony Ferguson final September. He didn’t rule out an octagon return and has his sights set on a trilogy with Conor McGregor. When requested if Edwards is a battle he’d prefer to get again, the Stockton star was surprisingly complimentary of Edwards (21-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC).
“I don’t suppose I’m over him both, too,” Diaz advised MMA Junkie this week after a news conference at American Airlines Center. “He’s nice. He’s an important fighter additionally, and it’d be cool if he held on to (the UFC title) for some time and he deserves it. Trains laborious and works laborious.”
Former UFC title challenger Diaz (0-0) meets YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul (6-1) in an eight-round boxing match on Aug. 5 in Dallas. The battle will likely be contested at 185 kilos and promoted underneath the DAZN banner. It streams reside on pay-per-view.
For extra on the matchup, go to MMA Junkie’s hub for Paul vs. Diaz.
