Daniel Cormier claims Jake Paul 'not as good as we originally thought' ahead of Nate Diaz fight

Daniel Cormier believes Jake Paul isn’t as good as people originally thought.

The UFC legend appeared on his ESPN Show DC & RC where he discussed the upcoming Jake Paul and Nate Diaz fight.

The internet sensation takes on the former UFC star in an eight-round boxing match on August 5.

It’ll be Diaz’s first appearance inside the boxing ring since he finished up with the MMA company with a win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279.

While DC believes it won’t be completely one-sided in favour of the Stockton Brawler, he’s not too impressed with Paul following his loss to Tommy Fury.

He says that the brother of Tyson Fury exposed Paul’s boxing skills.

He said: “When watching Jake fight against Tommy Fury, he’s not as good as we originally thought.

“Because Tommy Fury pretty much limited him to just throwing overhand rights.

REUTERS / Alamy

“He didn’t have an answer for Tommy Fury, a guy that’s been boxing for as long as Fury’s been boxing. He just kept trying to hit him with the overhand right.”

The critique isn’t to say that Cormier isn’t impressed with the Ohio-native’s growth in the sport.

I mean, he’d defeated former MMA champions in Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, and Anderson Silva.

But after being exposed against an actual boxer, the former UFC double-champ believes Paul has a long way to go in boxing.

He continued: “I respected what he was doing because he beat Anderson (Silva) in a boxing match, and what he had did to Tyron and those guys.

“So, I did think that he was really improving. But I think in watching the Tommy Fury match, it showed me how limited he still is in terms of his boxing development because when that weapon (right hand) was rendered useless.

“He just kept going to it, and it became more and more evident that it wasn’t going to land. But he didn’t have a plan B.

And while Diaz is an MMA star through and through, he’s also been training in boxing throughout his career.

DC added: “I think that is where I give Nate Diaz the chance.

“Because Diaz has been boxing for a long time. Diaz has done rounds with Andre Ward.

“Diaz has been around the sport of boxing and fighting for a really long time.”

Topics: Jake Paul, Nate Diaz, Tommy Fury, Daniel Cormier

Jayden Collins

Jayden Collins is a Journalist at SPORTbible. He has worked across multiple media platforms in areas such as sport, music, pop culture, entertainment and politics. He is part of the editorial team for LADbible Australia.