Ex-Ultimate
Fighting Championship star Nate Diaz will
be going to court after all.
In April 2023, Diaz was arrested in New Orleans for second-degree
battery. Multiple videos showed Diaz choking Logan Paul
impersonator and amateur MMA fighter Rodney
Petersen Jr. unconscious in the midst of a violent incident on
Bourbon Street. Diaz and his team claimed he acted in self-defense,
with Petersen allegedly pursuing him to fight. Charges from the
Orleans Parish District Attorney were later
dropped in September. On Thursday night,
news broke that Petersen had filed a lawsuit against Diaz for
the damage he sustained during the altercation.
According to initial reports, Petersen stated he suffered physical
and emotional damage from the fracas. Of note, Petersen seeks
compensation for damages and trauma, including a loss of income and
his medical expenses. His wife, Bobbi Petersen, is also on the
suit, where she seeks damages for loss of consortium—or the lack of
love and support her husband was able to offer while recovering—as
well as the care involved nursing him back to health.
The fighter known as “Not Logan Paul” stepped into the boxing ring
in January 2024, and he succumbed to a first-round knockout from
Tristan Hamm. Petersen bounced back two months later to outpoint a
comedian known as Cake Paul in an exhibition boxing match. On the
other side, Diaz fought Jake Paul in
a boxing match in August 2023, where he ultimately dropped a
decision. Diaz is currently scheduled to rematch Jorge
Masvidal under boxing rules in June.
Diaz’ attorney, Zach Rosenfield, issued one-word
statements to
multiple outlets. In
response to the filed lawsuit, Rosenfield wrote, “LOL.”