"The Problem Child" is back in the win column.
Jake Paul defeated former UFC star Nate Diaz via unanimous decision (97-92, 98-91, 98-91) in a 10-round pro boxing match Saturday night in Dallas.
The popular social media influencer successfully rebounded from his first career loss, a split decision to Tommy Fury in February. Paul is now 7-1 as a professional boxer.
Paul scored one knockdown in the fight, dropping Diaz halfway through the fifth round with a left hook to the temple.
"He's real tough," Paul said in his postfight interview. "That's what he's known for. But tough in this sport doesn't work."
This was arguably the most disciplined performance of Paul's career. He came out guns blazing in the first round, tagging Diaz with an onslaught of punches. Paul fought at a slower pace for the rest of the bout, but he was busier than Diaz, landed the heavier shots, and stayed light on his feet. His gas tank also held up in his first 10-round bout.
Paul edged Diaz 174-143 in punches landed, according to the broadcast.
Diaz's best rounds were the fourth and eighth. He had success landing shots in the clinch and was aggressive. Paul said he thought he won "basically every round" and credited Diaz for surviving the early barrage of punches in Round 1.
"Some shit didn't happen the way I wanted it to," Diaz said. "But it's all good."
Paul said he wants to book a rematch with Diaz in MMA. He offered Diaz $10 million to fight him under the PFL banner.
"Let's run it back in MMA," Paul said. "Make it fair. I won one, now it's your chance in your home territory."
Diaz expressed interest in an MMA fight against Paul, but he said it would need to be co-promoted by his company Real Fight, Inc.
"I'll do either, MMA or boxing," Diaz said when asked which combat sport he plans to compete in next. "MMA sounds good. (Paul) won one, I'm going to give him one back. So I'm down with that."
Paul mentioned a rematch with Fury as a possibility if an MMA bout with Diaz doesn't come to fruition. Paul said he's "going to try to get that back." Fury, the half-brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, is scheduled to face KSI on Oct. 14 in England.
The 26-year-old Paul has gone to the scorecards in his last three outings. He has four knockouts in seven wins, including against former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and ex-MMA champ Ben Askren. Paul's most recent win before Saturday was a unanimous decision over UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva last October.
In the last three years, Paul helped pioneer the influencer boxing trend - alongside his older brother Logan Paul and KSI - and has become one of the biggest draws in combat sports. The former YouTube star made his pro boxing debut in early 2020.
Diaz, one of the most popular and beloved fighters in MMA history, made his pro boxing debut Saturday. He parted ways with the UFC as a free agent after a win over Tony Ferguson last September, but has expressed a desire to return.
Diaz, 38, became a household name by beating Conor McGregor in 2016. He has headlined some of the biggest pay-per-view events in UFC history. Diaz, who's from Stockton, California, has fought professionally since 2004 and is 21-13 in pro MMA.
