Tensions escalated at the highly anticipated news conference for the upcoming boxing match between YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul and former UFC star Nate Diaz. As the two main-event fighters engaged in their traditional faceoff, both camps’ security teams clashed, resulting in punches being thrown on stage.
The incident occurred during the faceoff, with Paul and Diaz exchanging heated words. The longstanding bad blood between the two teams had been simmering for almost a year, and the confrontation finally reached a boiling point. According to Diaz’s team, a member of Paul’s security guards aggressively targeted their fighter and his team on stage. In response, Paul claimed in a social media post that a member of Diaz’s team instigated the physical altercation by throwing the first punch, which led to the Paul security guard retaliating.
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Following the skirmish, Paul took to social media to address the situation, stating that Nate’s team had emailed his team claiming assault. He further mocked them for acting like “fake gangsters” and alleged that the person who threw the initial punch was now seeking medical attention, needing stitches for his injuries.
Throughout the news conference, tensions remained high as a member of Paul’s Betr media team provoked Diaz with taunts, expressing eagerness for Paul to knock Diaz out during their bout. This individual also insulted Diaz’s brother, Nick Diaz, who is another veteran of the UFC, at a previous news conference in May.
Notably, this wasn’t the first instance of confrontation between the two teams. Last October, during Paul’s fight against Anderson Silva, another altercation occurred, and Diaz was seen slapping one of Paul’s security guards. During the recent media session, Diaz reminded the security guard of this previous incident multiple times.
Chris Avila, a teammate of Nate Diaz who is scheduled to face off against ex-UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens on Saturday, voiced his strong disapproval of the security guard’s behavior. Avila asserted that the guard, who was humiliated on stage by Nate Diaz, was the one who initiated the altercation and expressed a desire for him to face consequences for his actions.
The animosity between the camps is undeniable, and as fight night approaches, the anticipation for the boxing match between Jake Paul and Nate Diaz continues to grow. Fans can only hope that the rivalry will remain confined to the ring and not escalate any further outside of it. However, with both fighters known for their intense competitiveness, anything can happen when the bell rings. As the event approaches, all eyes will be on the fighters, their teams, and their ability to keep their emotions in check.
