Drake Riggs

Jake Paul is already anticipating his potential next moves.

“The Problem Child” seeks his seventh career victory as a professional boxer in Dallas, Texas tomorrow night. Paul has amassed a 6-1 record, consisting most notably of former MMA champions Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, and Ben Askren. He’ll next look to add another to his resume in the form of 15-year UFC veteran Nate Diaz in a middleweight affair.

Paul has called out just about every big-name star in the MMA world that can be thought of since he truly began building his name in boxing after his knockout of former NBA player Nate Robinson in career match No. 2. A name that has continually been on the mind of Paul has been none other than Diaz’s old rival Conor McGregor, who he feels can be lured into a potential clash with a finish in the American Airlines Center.

“When I knock out Nate Diaz and do what Conor couldn’t, it only makes sense for him to want that money fight,” Paul told MMA Junkie. “I don’t know how serious he’s taking fighting at all, and I don’t know how serious the fight world is taking him.

“Who knows if he still has that same appeal? But look, I always said I’d fight him. I’m down. It’s a big, massive event. He obviously has to ask his boss [UFC President] Dana [White], if he can do that. I’m my own boss. I make my own decisions. I could fight whoever, whenever, wherever. So he’s tied up and even if he wants to do it, Dana might not let him do it.”

McGregor and Diaz are 1-1 in their series with “The Notorious” besting Stockton’s finest in their August 2016 rematch via a majority decision at UFC 202. The Irishman has been his least active since then, fighting only five times in MMA with a brief Floyd Mayweather Jr. boxing match mixed in. Just yesterday, McGregor tweeted — before deleting — that he doesn’t care much for the result of Paul vs. Diaz but wants to take the BMF belt off the newly crowned Justin Gaethje and defend it in a Diaz trilogy bout.

On the other side of the coin with Diaz, the 38-year-old one-time UFC lightweight title challenger has maintained an interest in returning to the promotion at some point. The majority of assumptions throughout the community were that Diaz would try his hand in boxing following his UFC departure and Paul always expected that as well.

“I think Nate was always the plan since he was getting out of the UFC,” Paul said. “Right now, I’m just focusing on this fight, and we’ll see what happens moving on from here. There’s still a lot of big names, a lot of big fights to be made. And again, I’m just going to continue challenging myself and continuing to fight big names in the sport.”

TOP STORIES

Brawl. Nate Diaz turns tables on Jake Paul after security team melee: ‘That’s a bad influence’

Banter. Conor McGregor gets testy over Charles Oliveira’s inactivity jab: ‘You are nobody now, again’

Forward. Dustin Poirier weighs options for what comes next after UFC 291 loss, finally facing Nate Diaz

Details. Olympic boxer Esquiva Falcao explains controversial sparring post, says ‘boxing is not for’ Nate Diaz

Options. Jeremy Stephens addresses his MMA future: ‘I’m looking down at the menu right now, and it’s boxing’

Matchup. Chris Avila calls Jeremy Stephens toughest test of his career: ‘It’s time to step it up’

Legendary. Mike Tyson to train with Francis Ngannou ahead of Tyson Fury boxing match

VIDEO STEW

Paul vs. Diaz Pre-Fight Presser Staredowns.

Paul vs. Diaz Pre-Fight Presser Highlights.

Pros Predict Paul vs. Diaz.

UFC Nashville promo.

Rob Font’s greatest hits.

The debut of Rinya Nakamura.

A wild one.

PFL Road to Championship.

Bubba Jenkins Living Fit.

Full fight.

Fancy Mir Lock and Gogoplata.

LISTEN UP

Between the Links. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Jed Meshew discuss Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz, Justin Gaethje vs. Conor McGregor, Derrick Lewis free agency, and UFC Nashville.

Heck of a Morning. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck discusses interest levels for Jake Paul vs. Nate Diaz.

MORNING MUSIC

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

The superior ruleset.

Just one, more like.

Roasted.

Things are getting out of hand.

Prediction.

New profile pic.

Feels.

Good guy, Rocky.

Departure.

Main.

Beach mode.

Almost Tati time.

Thursday.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Noelle Grandjean (4-0) vs. So Yul Kim (7-1); ONE Friday Fights 28, Aug. 11

Terrance McKinney (13-6) vs. Mike Breeden (10-5); UFC Vegas 78, Aug. 12

Morgan Charrière (18-9-1) vs. Manolo Zecchini (11-3); UFC Paris, Sept. 2

Saori Oshima (12-3) vs. Si Yoon Park (3-3); Deep 115 Impact, Sept. 18

Bryan Battle (9-2) vs. AJ Fletcher (10-2); UFC Vegas 79, Sept. 23

Bill Algeo (17-7) vs. Alexander Hernandez (14-6); UFC Vegas 80, Oct. 7

David Dvořák (20-6) vs. Tatsuro Taira (14-0); UFC Vegas 81, Oct. 14

FINAL THOUGHTS

Pretty cool move by The Rock there with Themba Gorimbo.

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy another weekend of action. A little bit of something for every flavor palette. Thanks for reading!

EXIT POLL

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.