Jake Paul Has His Next Target: When I Knock Out Diaz, McGregor's Going To See Me

• Boxing

As we inch closer to one of the most thrilling matches in YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul's career, fans around the world are agog with anticipation. On August 5, Paul, with seven professional boxing matches to his credit and a 6-1 record, is set to face Nate Diaz, a seasoned star of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

A Powerhouse Clash Awaits

Having already squared off against acclaimed MMA personalities like Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, and Ben Askren, Paul has been anything but a stranger to high-stakes competition. Despite a loss earlier this year to Tommy Fury, Paul's forthcoming match against Diaz is poised to capture significant public attention, given Diaz's esteemed standing in the combat sports world.

Though Diaz boasts a more extensive fighting resume, he steps into the boxing ring as an underdog, having no professional boxing matches under his belt. Despite his formidable reputation as a skilled boxer in the MMA universe, Diaz faces a challenge from Paul, who has demonstrated his mettle against MMA fighters in the boxing ring on more than one occasion.

Jake Paul Sets Sights on Conor McGregor

A victory over Diaz would undoubtedly set the stage for a potential face-off with another MMA titan, Conor McGregor, a match-up that Paul believes is one of the most coveted at present.

Paul is confident that besting Diaz will open up this opportunity. "There's so many fighters [I could face]," Paul mused in an interview with Talk Sport. "We have offers out to Fury [for a rematch], we've been trying to do the KSI negotiations for years.

But when I knock out Diaz, I think McGregor's going to see me, want a payday, and come and get knocked out." The ambitious boxer also expressed willingness to meet McGregor on either boxing or MMA terms. "Either one," he affirmed, "I told everybody that I would fight Conor in any form of fight because he, in my opinion, is that shot."

Potential Shift to MMA

Earlier this year, Paul penned a contract with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), hinting at a potential shift to MMA fights.

The YouTuber with a wrestling background declared his readiness to engage in an MMA showdown with McGregor. "I'll do MMA, I'm not afraid to step in there. I've wanted to do that my whole career. I'm a wrestler, I've got a wrestling background, so all I'd have to learn is some jiu-jitsu and some kicks, which seems pretty easy to me," Paul stated.

This open challenge to McGregor appears to be a consistent thread running through Paul's boxing career. The famed "Notorious" largely dismissed these overtures initially but has recently responded via social media. A potential match would require UFC involvement, making a PFL-hosted MMA match unlikely.