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Just when you thought the action was over,Nate Diaz is back in the ring-but this time, it's a courtroom battle that's grabbing headlines. Earlier this month, Diaz and Jorge Masvidalthrilled 18,000 fans at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, in a boxing bout that was more than just a spectacle-it was a career-reviver for both former UFC stars. But now, Diaz is throwing punches of a different kind, filing a federal lawsuit against the fight's promoter, Fanmio, Inc., and its president, Solomon Engel, for $9 million he claims he's owed.
The fight, an electrifying clash that had fans and media buzzing, was supposed to be a golden ticket for Diaz. Fanmio, he alleges, agreed to pay him $10 million, with $1 million up front and the rest immediately following the bout. Simple, right? Not so much. Here we are, eight days post-fight, and Diaz says the remaining $9 million is nowhere to be found.
Engel, on the other hand, isn't just sitting quietly. "Nate Diaz has filed a frivolous lawsuit against Fanmio which claims that fraud and breach of contract were committed by Fanmio, yet neither has taken place," Engel stated. "In fact, Diaz has already been paid seven figures in connection with the fight. I look forward to resolving this dispute through the appropriate process and am confident that justice will prevail."
Diaz's lawsuit uncovers Fanmio's financial desperation
But Diaz's camp paints a very different picture. The lawsuit claims that Fanmio assured Diaz and his representatives, both in writing and verbally, that the $9 million was secured and ready to transfer. Yet, post-fight, the tone shifted dramatically. According to the suit, Engel blamed disappointing pay-per-view sales for his inability to pay Diaz the promised amount. Engel allegedly made desperate calls, even saying that if he paid Diaz, he might have to declare bankruptcy and that his wife might leave him due to the financial hit.
It's a scenario that reads like a plot twist from a boxing movie-except it's real life, and Diaz isn't backing down. The lawsuit hammers home the point: "There is nothing lower or more despicable in the world of boxing than a boxing promoter who allows a fighter to put their health and safety on the line in a boxing event so that the promoter has the chance to make tremendous profits, only to later renege on paying the boxer following the event."
As for Masvidal, he's keeping his distance from this legal slugfest, with no comment from his team. Meanwhile, Fanmio, known for its high-profile events like the Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul exhibition and a slap fighting card with Arnold Schwarzenegger, finds itself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
In the end, this isn't just about money-it's about honor in a sport where fighters risk it all. And for Nate Diaz, it's another round in the never-ending fight for what's rightfully his. Stay tuned, because this bout is far from over.