While it’s unclear what started a French Quarter street fight between mixed martial arts legend Nate Diaz and a Logan Paul lookalike Friday night, video footage leaves no doubt who finished it.
But while he may have won the skirmish in the street, a legal battle is just getting underway for Diaz, who was arrested and booked into the Orleans Justice Center Thursday morning after he turned himself in.
The video surfaced on Twitter Saturday and shows Diaz, 38, getting into an altercation with a man who resembles social media influencer-turned-boxer/WWE star Logan Paul, later identified as Rodney Peterson.
Coincidentally, Diaz’s next scheduled fight is against Paul's brother, boxer Jake Paul, on August 5. That match may be in jeopardy now as Diaz faces a second-degree battery charge.
According to CBSSports.com:
“In the video, Diaz can be seen engaging with a man who appeared to have his hands up when the fighter grabbed him and put him in a headlock.
“Diaz kept his arm around the man's neck while he kneed him in the body, and when the man passed out, Diaz laid him on the ground.”
On Monday, the New Orleans Police Department issued an arrest warrant for Diaz and that he would be charged with second-degree battery if arrested.
Diaz’s camp issued a statement to TMZ Sports following news breaking about the warrant.
“Nate’s attorney Walter Becker can confirm that Nate has received word of the arrest warrant and Becker has been in contact with court authorities in New Orleans,” Diaz’s representative Zach Rosenfield said the a statement.
Diaz’s attorney told TMZ Sports that the professional fighter was acting in self-defense in the incident, saying Peterson “aggressively pursued Nate with the intention of engaging him and once doing so, Nate acted entirely in self-defense.”
NOPD issued its own statement after Diaz turned himself in:
"Nathan Diaz (white male, DOB: 04-16-1985) arrived at the NOPD’s Sixth District station this morning (April 27, 2023) in the presence of his attorney and surrendered to police on an arrest warrant for a charge of second-degree battery. Diaz was transported to the Orleans Parish Justice Center and booked accordingly. He remains in the custody of the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office pending an initial court appearance."
Diaz was in New Orleans to watch and support his Misfits Boxing teammate Chris Avila.
This story was updated to include information on Diaz's arrest and the comments from Diaz's spokesperson.
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