Former UFC fighter Nate Diaz made headlines over the weekend for getting into a street fight in New Orleans. While attending a boxing event, Diaz found himself involved in an altercation that resulted in him choking out a man into unconsciousness (TMZ, New York Post). Some reports suggest that the man Diaz choked was a YouTube celebrity or a TikTok star, while others identify him as a Logan Paul lookalike (MARCA, MMA Junkie, Hindustan Times).
It’s unclear what led to the altercation, but footage captured by onlookers shows Diaz throwing a water bottle at reality star Chase DeMoor before turning his attention to the man he ultimately choked out (Bleacher Report). Jake Paul, who is set to fight Diaz’s brother Nick in an upcoming boxing match, even released a parody video mocking the street fight altercation (MMA Fighting).
This isn’t the first time Diaz has made headlines outside of the octagon. In 2016, he became a cult hero among MMA fans after defeating Conor McGregor in a shocking upset (CBS Sports). Since then, he’s been involved in high-profile fights against Jorge Masvidal and McGregor in rematches, as well as taking time off from the sport to focus on other pursuits (Fox News).
Diaz has long been known for his unorthodox fighting style and propensity for getting into trouble both inside and outside of the MMA world. Despite his controversies, he remains a fan favorite and one of the most exciting fighters to watch in the sport (MMA Weekly). It remains to be seen what, if any, consequences Diaz will face for his latest street fight incident, but it’s safe to say that he will continue to be a lightning rod for attention and controversy.