Nate Diaz’s teammate, Gilbert Melendez, has backed the MMA star to beat Jake Paul in an MMA bout.
Paul and Diaz recently squared off in a boxing match on August 5th, 2023, in the latter’s pro-boxing debut.
‘The Problem Child’ came out victorious via a unanimous decision. Although that may have been the case, Diaz did manage to last the distance.
In the aftermath, Paul expressed his desire to have the rematch in MMA. A reported $10 million was put on the table, something which Diaz was receptive to.
And if that were to go ahead, Melendez has backed Diaz to dominate.
Gilbert Melendez wants to see Nate Diaz and Jake Paul run it back in the ring or the cage, but predicts Diaz "destroys" Paul in MMA.
(via @DamonMartin) pic.twitter.com/d65yJ4ovkW
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) August 8, 2023
“Nate destroys this guy in MMA. I’d love to see it. I’d love to see it in boxing again, too. Run it back in boxing and then in MMA,” Melendez
Melendez also gave his take on Diaz’s loss to Paul. He was adamant that the size difference played a part, as Paul was the bigger man.
The catchweight of 185 favored Paul, who has competed at the weight for all of his boxing matches.
Meanwhile, Diaz is known for being a 155-pounder, as the extra weight may have slowed him down.
But if an MMA fight happened at 185, Melendez favored Diaz heavily.
“Obviously, I think the size made a difference. A smaller man would have withered sooner. I thought Nate did a great job. Just two significant moments happened for Jake Paul that made Nate have to come back a little bit and I believe he was on his way to coming back both those times in that fifth round before he got clipped and then in that 10th round when Jake Paul was holding on and just kind of letting time expire,” Melendez
And this was the same sentiment being expressed on social media.
Social Media Response
hell yeah
— 💜Jolie💜 (@nicojn05) August 8, 2023
Gilbert Melendez, you totally called it! Good job!
— Ai Asian Girls (@AiAsianPorn) August 8, 2023
Well yeah
— Banditti of the Prairie (@epicbret) August 8, 2023