08 July 2023 , 10:22
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Nate Diaz is planning to compete in two separate triathlons with just weeks to go until his professional boxing debut against Jake Paul next month.
The 38-year-old former UFC star became famous during his career for his ability to stay the distance over five rounds of five minutes, using his superior cardio to land wins above his skill level. He attributes his incredible gas tank to half-ironman tournaments, which he and his brother Nick compete in during their off-seasons.
Nick, who was also a world title contender in the UFC, has compete in the notorious 'Escape From Alcatraz' triathlon, which features a dangerous swim from the island. And Nate is now planning to take part in two triathlons even though he is within a month of his fight with Paul.
"I've got a race this weekend and next weekend also," Diaz told the Pat McAfee Show. "But this one's going to be in a lake so that's good. Those are my favourite races, I never did Alcatraz though, my brother did it. I would have done that one but we race all year long and about a week or two out I try not to do too big of races.
"So every time he's done Alcatraz I was about two weeks out from a fight so I'd always miss that race. But I've done other stuff like I did the Big Kahuna half Ironman in Santa Cruz, out there you swim around the pier. The whole team you hear seals and a load of s***, it's the scariest thing ever I hate those."
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He and his brother both keep up their racing schedules whether they are in a fight camp or not, and this boxing show is no different. But the fighter is not a fan of competing in the swimming part of his triathlons when he has to get into the ocean, fearing that he could be eaten by sharks.
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"Every time we would be on the beach getting ready to go in the morning, my brother would be all pumped up," he continued. "I'd be like 'Motherf*****, I'm only doing this because of you and now I'm going to get eaten by a shark'. I hate ocean swims but I've done a bunch of them and now that my brother hasn't been competing as much, I haven't been dragged into too many ocean ones."
Diaz is also an avid marijuana smoker, which almost cost he and Paul their fight venue in Dallas, Texas where there are strict laws against the drug. And he has joked his performance would be better in long-distance races if he could smoke the drug whilst taking part.
"If I could smoke during them it would be better, because it makes me deal with it better," he joked. "My whole career I have smoked weed and if I need to get a lot of s*** done, may as well get high. If you're smoking a bunch of tobacco, nicotine and bull**** chemicals it's bad, but not some natural weed."