DWCS: Logan Paxton’s First Boxing Rounds Came Against Nate Diaz

Logan Paxton’s first boxing sparring rounds came against Nate Diaz when he was 19 years old. The session lasted about three to five rounds at the Diaz brothers’ gym in Stockton, California, despite Paxton having no formal boxing experience.

Paxton had gone to the gym during the off-season after his first year of college wrestling. A friend who trained with Nate and Nick Diaz invited him to join a workout, but did not tell him that the visit fell on a sparring day. Paxton knew who Nate Diaz was and accepted the opportunity to train with him.

Before that session, Paxton had only put on boxing gloves for informal backyard bouts and for working with wrestlers. He was therefore entering the ring without any previous boxing rounds when he was asked to train with Diaz, who was preparing for another opponent at the time.

Paxton said Diaz kept the intensity under control and treated him with consideration. Still, the young wrestler managed to last through the session and believed that his ability to continue for several rounds showed the toughness needed to pursue MMA. He also felt the performance earned Diaz’s respect.

Wrestling had already provided the foundation for Paxton’s competitive career. He became an All-American at Sacramento City College before transferring to North Dakota State, where he completed his final two college seasons. His connection with the Diaz brothers then helped move him towards mixed martial arts.

Paxton is now scheduled to face Cristian Pérez at UFC level on August 18, 2026, with the bout listed as his next fixture. The fight forms part of his route into the lightweight division that Diaz competed in for years, giving the old sparring encounter added context to Paxton’s current MMA ambitions.