A round-by-round recap of Paul v Diaz
Here’s a recap of Mike Jones’ analysis from each round as Jake Paul took down Nate Diaz in Dallas:
Round One: This showdown is a 10 round affair. Jake Paul has never had a match last as long. He’s promised to knockout Nate Diaz tonight but that seems like a difficult ask.
Diaz is a southpaw which could play into Paul’s favour. Paul dances around the ring and looks for a couple of jabs but Diaz evades easily enough.
A big left hook from Paul catches Diaz and Paul presses the advantage. Paul gets him on the chin again and Diaz is rocking. Paul lands a combo but Diaz struggles to clinch.
Diaz is unsteady and it’s not looking good for him already. What a start for Jake Paul.
Paul pins him with another left hook. Diaz’s hooks are wild, he doesn’t look all that comfortable.
Round Two: There’s work being done on Diaz’s right eye after that blast from Jake Paul. He hurt Diaz with that left hooked and it took a while for Diaz to react.
Diaz needs to clinch more and use his weight against Paul. Diaz works the inside and gets a couple of uppercuts on the chin. A jab to the head and right hand to the body brings Paul some joy.
His right eye doesn’t look good at all but this is a better round from Diaz who ends it with a nice left hook.
Round Three: Diaz is just walking to get himself into range and Paul isn’t responding to that. He lands a nice uppercut but Diaz seems to have settled into this fight.
A left hook lands from Paul but Diaz responds in kind. The two boxers clash heads before Paul pins Diaz through the guard.
Diaz has raised his arms in celebration after each round. If anything he’s enjoying himself out there.
Round Four: Jake Paul starts the fourth with a little dance before coming straight in for the clinch. He gets a jab to land on Diaz’s swelling eye.
The jab is a vital tactics here, if Paul lands it more often Diaz will start to get worried. Diaz comes forward with volume and pile some pressure on Paul with a few uppercuts and short hooks.
Diaz clatters Paul on the chin with two left hooks. The punches aren’t knockout blows but it’s encouraging for Diaz. He’s taking that round.
Round Five: Can Diaz build on the last round?
Paul starts off the fifth as the aggressor and does a good job of pinning Diaz with an uppercut. Diaz is trying to regain some stamina. He’s backing off and backing off but that allows Jake Paul an opening.
He smokes Diaz with a left hook and knocks him down! Diaz is down with a minute to go in the round.
Paul goes in for the kill as Diaz gets back on his feet. Diaz is rocked but a right hand and the legs start to go again. Diaz gets a couple of counters to land and he tries to end the round on a high.
Paul doesn’t get the knockout but he takes the round easily.
Round Six: Paul almost skips back into the middle of the ring for round six. He senses that the knockout is here. A one-two down the middle is good but there’s a flurry from Diaz in response, some land, most don’t.
Diaz tries to get himself into range as Paul tries to pin him with a right hook.
Round Seven: Nate Diaz may be hoping that he can earn his rewards in the latter rounds if he can keep Jake Paul at bay until then. Paul lands his right and beats the guard but only manages a glancing blow.
Diaz has been busy inside the pocket but Paul gets a left hook to land and follows up with the right uppercut. Another big right pins Diaz but Paul is starting to look tired.
Diaz raises his arms once again. That was a tough round to call.
Round Eight: Nate Diaz’s corner have told to not let Jake Paul win another round. This is the time they’ve been waiting for but it’s Paul who comes out with the three hit combo early on.
There doesn’t seem to be any power left in Paul’s arm. If Diaz can get the opening he could work Paul over. A short right get Diaz on the chin but he’s the one pushing forward. A couple of uppercuts land for Diaz.
Diaz hits Paul on the chin and looks to have rocked The Problem Child. Before he can push through the advantage the bell goes to end the round.
These next two rounds are going to be interesting.
Round Nine: Nate Diaz is mocking Jake Paul now but Paul is up on the cards and won’t mind taking time out of the round. Paul is sticking behind his jab and trying to keep Diaz at a distance.
Paul throws a combo, then retreats, throws a combo, then retreats again. Good boxing.
Diaz needs to keep boxing, he’s trying to draw Paul in but he’s not interested in going toe-to-toe. Diaz finishes with a flourish and catches Paul with a right hook.
Diaz may just have clinched the round but it’s too close to call. One round to go.
Round 10: Nate Diaz continues to showboat and gets pinned on the chin by a left-right combo. Paul looks to have a bit more in the tank and targets the body.
Diaz looks slightly disappointed in Jake Paul. He goes on the attack and rocks Paul who grabs hold in a clinch to stop the wobble.
The whistle comes and this one is going to go to a decision. The knockdown for Paul could prove crucial here.
