UFC fighter Nate Diaz recently defeated Jorge Masvidal in a boxing match at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The match was well attended by over 10,000 people. However, it seems the promoters have yet to reward the fighters.
Eight days after the success, promoter and president of Fanmio Solomon Engel has yet to pay Nate Diaz the $9 million promised for his appearance. Diaz stated that Engel agreed to pay him the sum of $10 million for his appearance in the ring but has only paid $1 million, which was delivered upfront before the match took place. The remainder was promised to be released immediately after the bout, but Engel has yet to make payments.
Following this, Diaz filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, in an attempt to make Engel pay up. The lawsuit claims that Engel is an ‘outright fraud’ who intentionally lied to Diaz and his team.
“Fanmio and Engel are now reneging on their written and oral promises and guarantees to pay $9 million owed to Diaz because they claim they are going to lose money on the event. In a flurry of desperate calls to Diaz’s representatives following the event, Engel despondently grovelled that he was going to lose more money than he had anticipated on the event if he paid Diaz what he had promised. And that his wife might divorce him because of the financial losses. Engel went so far as to threaten that he might have to declare bankruptcy to avoid paying Diaz what he owed.
“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.”
The promotion Fanmio is known for being involved in high-profile events like the 2021 exhibition boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul and a slap fighting card presented along with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Due to its popularity, Solomon Engel, the promotion’s President and CEO, is not taking the accusations lightly. Engel has released a statement denying these allegations.
“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 said. “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. Making salacious and defamatory statements to the media in order to harm my family and I has only strengthened my resolve to ensure that the truth will prevail.”
The Diaz team has expressed disappointment in the promotion and claimed Diaz would have never fought if he knew Fanmio wouldn’t keep its word. Masvidal has been quiet on the lawsuit and has yet to make any comments.
