Credit: Twitter
Nate Diaz recently fired back at claims that the fighter is showing signs of CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy). The 38-year-old UFC star made the comments following comments from both fans and professional pundits alike that the fighter had slurred speech as a result of his many years in the MMA scene. The 34-fight-career veteran, however, insists he has always spoken with a speech impediment and that he does not suffer from any brain damage.
Diaz acknowledges that a career in MMA might not be the healthiest, and insists that his lifestyle is now much healthier than before. The 38-year-old is preparing for a boxing match with popular YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul later this year in August. Speaking on the difference between MMA and Boxing, Diaz says that the training is a lot less harsh on his body and that he is making sure to be in peak condition come the much-anticipated show match in May.
Speaking on the CTE allegations, Diaz said, "These f****** are talking about how I talk and I’ve got f****** CTE or some s***. I’m like bro, I’ve been talking this way the whole motherf****** time. It’s got nothing to do with getting hit or none of that. I’m smarter now than ever."
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Elaborating, the fighter claims that despite a long and storied career in MMA, he isn’t one to get hit hard or eat punches. "I don’t really be eating punches like they say," Diaz said. "I bleed because of the forearms and elbows and s*** cut me up but … I’ve never been knocked out. I’ve never even really been f****** stunned stupid or nothing."
Diaz finished a career with UFC in September of last year and stepped into the world of boxing. Diaz only took two knockout losses in his long career, but fans and critics cite his extended time in the fighting scene as evidence of the damage building up. One prominent critic to accuse Diaz of brain damage is Jorge Masvidal, who referred to Diaz as a “borderline vegetable.” While the former UFC fighter did not mention Masvidal specifically, it was clear what he was responding to. Diaz is set to fight Jake Paul at the American Airlines Centre in Dallas next month.
